Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond is pleased Premier John Horgan was able to stop in Prince George this week as he toured some affected areas of the BC wildfire crisis.
Despite what political party you support or belong to, Bond says it’s important to have political leaders on the front lines during a critical situation.
“I love where we live and I think the government needs to demonstrate it does understand the concerns that we have and it does bring relief to know that the Premier had been here and he apparently received a briefing and is now fully aware of the concern.”
The BC Liberal MLA gave full marks to Horgan for coming to the northern capital and seeing part of the aftermath first hand.
“It is important to see leadership to have the Premier on the ground and I think a visit is important and people do want to know that the Premier knows first hand what people here in the north are experiencing.”
Bond says the safety of everyone caught in the crisis should be the number one priority.
She’s been very vocal about making sure the north has adequate resources to fight the blazes and that all hands need to be on deck.
Horgan hinted wildfires much like the Shovel Lake blaze could become the new normal due to dry forests and the lack of people cleaning afterward.
The NDP Government was halfway through a recommendations report on the 2017 BC Wildfire Season before dealing with this year’s crisis.
Bond adds when this fire event is over, they need to go back and finish what they started so a more fruitful solution to these blazes can be made.
“They need to take that report and continue to implement the recommendations and there are very practical things like making sure we are looking at the things that are on the forest floor, how we look at protecting from interface fires and things like the registration process.”
“Again, this is not a partisan issue, this is the practical stuff that needs to be done to make sure that if we continue to face these situations we are prepared as best as we possibly can be.”
The political tour through Prince George continued on Thursday morning as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss all the blazes occurring within the Northwest Fire Centre.
Bond is of the belief that it’s critical to have all party-lines open and working together during a time of need and to put all differences aside.
“I think that when you have a crisis of this magnitude in British Columbia – we almost have 600 fires burning, people are out of their homes, they’re frightened and concerned. I think it is important that all levels of government including First Nations, federal, provincial, municipal and regional district representatives need to set aside political differences, to show leadership and to work constructively alongside one another.”
BC has been under a State of Emergency for the past two weeks.
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