The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for a public inquiry into the wildfire response from this past summer.
The wildfire season was one of the worst in years with thousands of people in the north forced to evacuate their homes.
Northern NDP MLAs Jordan McPhail and Leroy Laliberte held a press conference in Saskatoon on Thursday where they called for a public inquiry into the government’s response to the wildfires.
The northern MLAs say the inquiry could investigate why the province refused federal help.
They also say an inquiry could examine support for wildfire evacuees.
“The people of the North deserve answers,” said Jordan McPhail, Saskatchewan NDP Cumberland MLA and Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs. “The questions keep mounting — as does the frustration.”
“We know the federal government was there and ready to help and the Sask. Party refused,” added Leroy Laliberte, Saskatchewan NDP Athabasca MLA and Shadow Minister for First Nations & Metis Relations. “The Legislative session begins in one week and we will be in there on behalf of our constituents demanding a public inquiry so they can finally get the answers they deserve.”
The northern MLAs also called for any public inquiry to be completed by an independent judge.
MBC Radio News reached out to the provincial government for response and were referred to a media release posted by the government.
The release says the bids process for independent reviews of the 2025 wildfire season has now closed.
In the release, Public Safety Minister Minister Tim MCleod says the SPSA issued a request for bids to independent firms for a post-incident analysis of the wildfire season.
The government says the review process is expected to begin in the coming weeks and will conclude before next year’s fire season.