By paNOW Staff

Ministry of Environment hosting public consultations on new Wildfire Act

May 23, 2012 | 12:45 PM

Sarah Rolles

paNOW staff

The ministry of Environment is hosting an open meeting tonight at the Exhibition Centre in Prince Albert to seek input on a proposed new legislation called The Wildfire Act.

It will replace the current Prairie and Forest Fires Act of 1982, one of the oldest pieces of fire legislation in Canada that no longer keeps up with the current wildfire practices.

Del Phillips, policy analyst with wildfire management said the new legislation will be written with the intent and the over marching principal that the responsibility for approaching wild fires should be shared by all individuals including industry, municipalities and the crown.

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“This is especially important because over 50 per cent of all wild fires are human caused,” said Phillips.

“Some of the key changes in the new legislation is basically a greater emphasis on prevention measures to be taken by everyone that includes campfires, burning off crop residue, use of burning barrels and fire pits. This will also include smoke from those fires because it can be not only a nuisance but also a health issue and safety issue if it blankets across highways.”

Phillips said they will increase efficiency and reduction administrative requirements.

“For example we are moving from a burning permit to a burning notification system which I believe will be more efficient for us and our clients,” said Phillips.

“And also the institution of fire bands is a very cumbersome process and now we have made provisions for more current media approaches whether it is Facebook or twitter or other social media that have made it far more efficient.”

Phillips said one of the major changes that will affect the general public deals with wild and urban interface.

“That is basically where structures and communities meet the forest the development in our provincial forest is expanding rapidly with more and more exploration, recreation the activity out there it is really, really increasing. So we are proposing that any new development within the provincial forest of a permanent nature would have to conform to fire hazard mitigation measures commonly called fire smart and that relates to building and sub division planning, construction and vegetation management around structures.”

To see a detailed outline of the areas the new legislation will focus on click here.

The ministry will embark on extensive public consultation meetings throughout May and June and then again in the fall with stakeholders, First Nations and Metis people, industry, municipalities, communities and the public in general.

Phillips said what they hear from the discussions now and in the fall, will be incorporated into the act.

“We do have some codes to put in place over the winter and our hope is that the legislation will be ready for the spring of next year and passed in time for the 2013 fire season.”

The public meeting on the new act in Prince Albert tonight will take place at 7 p.m. in the east room of the Exhibition Centre.

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