Ontario Premier Doug Ford supported his government’s budget for addressing wildfires on Thursday while requesting federal assistance for potential evacuations in northern communities facing uncontrolled fires. Ford, speaking in Windsor, Ont., mentioned that more than 150 fire crews are tackling over 180 wildfires in northern Ontario, with additional support from crews in the Yukon and Alberta. He emphasized the province’s commitment to ensuring people’s safety without financial constraints.
Responding to criticisms of inadequate budgeting for this year’s fire season, Ford insisted that funding for firefighters would never be insufficient. The province allocated $271 million for emergency firefighting in 2025-26, intending to spend $150 million in 2026-27 after surpassing last year’s $135 million budget due to challenging fire conditions.
While Ford assured additional funding beyond the base amount if necessary, NDP MPP Lise Vaugeois expressed concerns that the current budget does not adequately address the escalating fire threats in Ontario.
In a letter to federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, Ontario’s Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop highlighted 15 northern communities undergoing evacuations or considering them due to the escalating fire risks. The province anticipates the need for air evacuations as some communities lack road access, emphasizing the urgency for swift federal deployment of aircraft and crews within 24 hours if required.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, acknowledging the upheaval caused by the fires, pledged federal readiness to assist both Ontario and Manitoba dealing with flooding. Carney emphasized ongoing coordination with provinces and municipalities to provide additional support as needed.
Evacuation orders have been issued for various communities like Armstrong, Lac La Croix First Nation, Whitesand First Nation, Gull Bay First Nation, and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation due to the wildfire threats. Concerns were raised by evacuees from Whitesand First Nation about the delayed federal assistance request, stating that the Ministry of Natural Resources failed to respond promptly to the urgency of the situation.
Residents of Hutchison, Ramsay Wright, Trottier, and Weaver townships are on evacuation alert as wildfires in the Thunder Bay region continue to grow. Ontario’s forest fire officials reported 136 active fires in the northwest region, with 63 out of control, and another 44 fires in the northeast, nine of which are uncontained.
The province has witnessed 483 fires this year, surpassing last year’s count and exceeding the 10-year average by mid-July, emphasizing the severity of this year’s wildfire season.