Banff-Cochrane MLA Cam Westhead is co-sponsor of newly proposed legislation that would see increases in fines for people whose actions could cause forest fires and regulations that would prohibit the use of incendiary targets and fireworks on public lands.
Westhead partnered with Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, on Bill 24, which is an amendment to the Forest and Prairie Protection Amendment Act and was tabled earlier this month.
He said after hearing from residents in the MD of Bighorn and Ghost Valley area about the dangers that incendiary targets and fireworks present when the fire hazard is high, the minister responded with a regulation to the legislation that would prohibit the use of either on public lands.
“I have been involved with the minister and sharing concerns I have heard from people who want to know we are doing everything we can to address wildfires,” Westhead said. “One thing I am particularly proud of is the regulations that will follow the legislation are proposing to have a ban on incendiary targets and fireworks on public lands.”
As a public land use area, he said, the Ghost Valley is used by recreationalists for firearms shooting and target practice. However, Westhead said residents have begun to see the use of incendiary targets that explode when shot being used, which could cause a wildfire. The concern around the devices was enough to see a temporary ban on them by the government over the summer months when the fire hazard was high.
“This is something the community brought to my attention and that I made the minister aware of,” he said. “It is a really good example of having the community speak its concerns.”
That being said, Westhead acknowledged that with the permission of a forest officer either an incendiary target or fireworks can be allowed through a permit process.
“There are times when it is appropriate to have fireworks on public lands,” Westhead said.
Bill 24 was introduced in the legislature to create measures aimed at reducing wildfires caused by humans and helping firefighters when they are on the ground responding to a wildfire situation.
“Far too many wildfires are triggered by human activity and we need to take proactive steps that will help reduce the risk of this happening,” Carlier said. “This important legislation will improve our ability to decrease the number of preventable fires, while also strengthening provisions that support the efforts of our wildfire fighters to keep Albertans and their communities safe.”
Proposed amendments to the legislation would increase penalties associated with violations like abandoning a campfire or having a fire during a fire ban.
Negligent or reckless behaviour, said Westhead, is a particular target of the increased fines; to send a message to those in forested areas to be careful – both individuals and commercial operations – with fines as high as $1 million possible for businesses that ignore fire hazards or safe operating procedures.
The legislation also proposes to simplify the process to restrict activities like off-highway vehicle use during a time of high fire hazard and restricting the use of drones that interfere with firefighting aircraft during a wildfire situation.
March 1 is proposed as the official start of wildfire season in the province. In 2016, there were more than 1,300 fires in Alberta, including the 589,552-hectare fire that forced the evacuation of Fort McMurray in May – a fire that’s cause has yet to be determined as being human caused or not. Over 70 per cent of wildfires in Alberta, however, over the last five years have been linked to human activity.
The Bow Valley, Kananaskis, Bragg Creek and Cochrane areas are heavily forested, noted Westhead, which is why he felt it was important legislation to co-sponsor.
