Forestry critic condemns government for failing to fix a water bomber parked since 2018

Wednesday, 18 September 2024 07:00

By Tonya Organ

Pleaman Forsey says “government has flip-flopped on fixing the water bomber, and now we’re facing another fire season without adequate resources.”

Forestry and Agriculture critic Pleaman Forsey is condemning the government's failure to repair a vital water bomber that has been out of service since 2018. The province is currently operating with only four CL-415 water bombers, leaving us vulnerable during forest fire season. Forsey says “government has flip-flopped on fixing the water bomber, and now we’re facing another fire season without adequate resources.” said Forsey. He says “After the state of emergency in Central Newfoundland in 2022 and evacuations this past summer in Labrador, this inaction is putting communities at risk.” Forsey noted that media reports show that government does not have financial commitment from the other three Atlantic provinces for creating a Forest Fire Centre of Excellence and he wonders if a tender to repair the water bomber has even been issued.

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