Ontario’s Premier acknowledges the need to do more to address a shortage of water bomber pilots.
Premier Doug Ford says new aircraft have been ordered but admits more pilots must be trained.
“We have lots of pilots, but you have to also understand you just can’t have any pilot with these water bombers,” says Ford.
“And then we have the helicopters, too, that carry a tremendous amount of water as well. So I think it’s all hands on deck.”
Ford also supports the need for a national wildland firefighting program.
He sees it helping the provinces access additional resources for any type of weather-related emergency.
“We need to have as many resources as possible. And it’d be nice to have a national program. And everyone also has a provincial program, but a national program that, when this happens, no matter if it’s flooding,
Ford also favours increased harvesting and replanting of the forests to reduce the fire threats.
