Editor:
This year, Alberta and Canada experienced the worst wildfire season on record. Even though it has finally snowed in the valley bottom, I still see a frighteningly low level of snow out my office window for this time of year. This doesn’t bode well for our wildfire risk in 2024.
I have heard concerns from many folks in every community across our great riding of Banff-Kananaskis about this. As communities with small populations surrounded by provincial land, much of the responsibility to address wildfire risk falls to the provincial government.
There’s a Bow Valley Wildfire and Vegetation Management plan in the works that needs to be released so we can all begin working together, across levels of government, to address wildfire risk.
The MD of Bighorn desperately needs more capacity to effectively address wildfire across their massive land base. The Village of Lake Louise needs a fire hall. The volunteer fire department in Benchlands needs the autonomy to change the signage at the entrance to the Ghost so that recreationists can be prepared. When I look around our riding, I see old, dry pine and spruce that present a great risk to us and our visitors. I also see the potential to work together to address this risk.
My job as your MLA is to represent your needs in the legislature. A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to our wildfire risk and the need for provincial support to address it. The provincial government is not only responsible for managing wildfire risk on provincial lands, but also greatly benefits from the recreation opportunities that the public lands in our riding provide.
Managing wildfire risk here keeps our communities and visitors safe, ensures continued confidence in tourism, and keeps our local economic engines going.
This is why consulting with communities and stakeholders about how best to fire smart our communities is critical. I’ve been talking with the Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen and look forward to working together to ensure wildfire programs serve our communities, our economy, and the natural areas and parks that millions of people come to enjoy each year.
Your voice is also important in this conversation, so stay tuned for engagement opportunities or email me anytime.
Sarah Elmeligi, MLA Banff-Kananaskis
Canmore
