“I asked the premier today to just simply go on record and acknowledge that ... climate change is real, that the fires that we’re seeing across this province – especially on a day like today, which is Clean Air Day, ironically – that this is linked to climate change,” she said after question period.
“I want the government to do that because I want the premier to acknowledge that they have a responsibility in how we’re going to mitigate climate change.”
Opposition leaders said there should be a full fire ban across Ontario, but Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith said the province implements fire bans on Crown land, and municipalities can assess their own situations.
“Throughout most of eastern, central, northeast and northwest Ontario, there is a fire restriction and ban in place,” he said.
“But I think the message to everybody is clear that this is a very delicate situation, people need to take a level of personal responsibility, the rules apply to them, they need to make sure that we’re following them to ensure that we do not have any unintentionally set, man-made fires.”
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said there are 54 active fires, including 29 not under control. As of Wednesday morning, 13 new fires had been discovered and fire rangers extinguished six fires on Tuesday.
Environment Canada shows a moderate, high or very high air quality risk across most of the province, with values especially high in eastern Ontario. Officials have said that a lot of the smoke seen in Ontario comes from wildfires in Quebec.