Republicans slam Canada as wildfire smoke fills American skies
· Toronto Sun
Four Republican members of the U.S. Congress say Canadian officials aren’t doing enough to prevent wildfires as smoke from north of the border is drifting into the U.S. northeast.
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In a letter signed by Michigan Republicans John James, Jack Bergman, John Moolenaar and Lisa McClain, and addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney, the four lawmakers said the federal and provincial governments have failed to address the underlying causes of worsening wildfires.
“Our constituents in Michigan are once again under air quality alerts. Our hospitals are once again treating children, dialysis patients, and older residents for the effects of smoke that did not originate anywhere near them,” the lawmakers said in the letter dated Wednesday.
“This is the third consecutive year we have had to write to Canadian officials about a crisis that Canada has the tools to prevent and has chosen not to.”
The four lawmakers said they have repeatedly been told that their concerns would be addressed, only to be met with inaction.
“We were told the causes, chronic under-investment in forest thinning, fuel reduction, and prescribed burns, along with inadequate enforcement against arson, were being addressed. They were not, or not adequately enough to matter to the people we represent,” they wrote.
Lawmakers vow to take matters in their own hands
They also say provincial leaders “have offered excuses instead of results, and in some cases have openly dismissed the health of American citizens as an inconvenience to their own summer.”
Calling it “unacceptable from a neighbour and an ally,” they said if Canada could not manage its forests to prevent these fires, the U.S. would “act on our own” to protect Americans, claiming that “American lungs are paying the price for Canadian inaction.”
The lawmakers maintained that they “remain ready to work with Canada in good faith,” but said they have had enough of what they described as “excuses” from Canadian officials.
“Our constituents are breathing the consequences of this failure right now, and they deserve better than to be told, again, that it will be handled,” they ended their letter.
Canadian wildfire smoke drifted south to states near the border Thursday, where unhealthy to hazardous air quality was recorded across parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and New York.
Prime Minister’s response
During a news conference Thursday in London, Ont., Carney was asked to comment on the letter.
Responding to a reporter’s question in French, the Prime Minister highlighted that while Canada is investing in clean energy, “in the U.S. there’s prohibitions against clean energy.”
He also said that the U.S. has reduced climate change efforts on a global scale.
“Climate change is everyone’s responsibility – truly everyone’s – including the United States,” Carney added.