OPEN LETTER TO MPP GRAYDON SMITH
Dear Minister Smith,
I want to comment on your statement in the Legislature this week that we have always had forest fires and that what is happening right now is nothing unusual.
With all due respect I strongly disagree. We have more forest fires than ever, they are stronger, longer, out of control, and much more serious. They affect many communities near and far.
Will you acknowledge that the fires we are experiencing right now are so severe because of the climate change crisis?
The air is drier and hotter; we are getting less gentle rain. If we get torrential downpours after long periods of drought conditions, the dry earth cannot soak up the water, which leads to flooding. We have clear cut old growth forests and replaced them with “monoculture” forests which do not have the same capability of storing rain water and keeping the earth moist. We have destroyed wetlands and are still in the process of destroying more, i.e. in the Greenbelt which your government has partially opened to development.
I am urging you to reconsider your position and take active steps to prevent further destruction of and warming up of the earth.
Sincerely, but also deeply concerned,
Christine Lauffer
Burk’s Falls, ON
Member of Almaguin Climate Action (ACA) and
Climate Action Muskoka (CAM)
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RONALD RITCHIE says
While I agree global warming may be a part of our country forest fires, it is more than just that. We have changed how we manage our forests and to blame it all on climate change is strongly disagreeable, and just shows we must continually be aware and looking at ways to prevent or be prepared for more of the same!
Stephen Lymburner says
Well, it’s not because of any “climate crisis or emergency” since that’s hogwash. One of the main reasons is that activists fight against controlled burns and forest floor cleanup. Climate change is natural and cyclical, humans can affect the less than 5% and no amount of money can change it. The have been many very dry years and many very wet years. The vast majority of these fires have been arson and many believe it’s to further the climate scam, IE: look at the Quebec fires.
Mac Redden says
Dud Ford cut emergency firefighting funding by 67%.
Just before massive wildfires in Ontario.
Get used to the smoke and destruction.
“As Ontario faces the devastating consequences of ongoing wildfires, it becomes apparent that the Doug Ford government’s decision to slash the forest firefighting budget by a staggering 67 per cent ($142.2 million according to 2019 Ontario Budget) was a reckless and short-sighted move.”
Just like Dud cut those trained to handle a pandemic.
Right before a massive, deadly worldwide pandemic.
“Public Health Ontario suffered exodus of senior leaders and budget cuts before the COVID-19 pandemic struck”
Get used to the deaths.
It’s not like Dud hasn’t done anything about deadly LTCs.
He created Bill 218 to protect the negligent ones from being sued.
That’s about it.
Mostly private, deadly LTCs like those employing his buddy Mike “The Knife” Harris.
Phil Beacock says
Forest management is something we across the world have let slide!! Six nations people would burn the forest and fields off when they left for different grounds so when they came back they had an abundance of fresh greens, berries and mushrooms just a few things to mention! Then the government stepped in in the name of betterment! Thats what happens when you dont do your research..BC outlawed it in the late 1800’s. And look at it know! With the accumulation of years of dead trees, bugs and man, there is 6 inches of gas on the forest floors! When Mother Nature has its ability to clean up we step in and make it go wild! Fire is the best thing you can do for a forest floor and bush life in general! Climate change, i say stupid man kind!