Wildfires Canadian Forces will assist in Quebec

Wildfires: Canadian Forces will assist in Quebec

The Canadian Forces (CAF) will be deployed to Quebec to help fight wildfires and support evacuation efforts, Disaster Relief Secretary Bill Blair announced.

Mr Blair made the announcement on Twitter on Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after a request was made by Quebec Minister of Public Safety François Bonnardel.

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In a press conference earlier on Saturday, North Coast Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain indicated that a hundred troops will arrive in the region on Saturday and another hundred on Sunday.

“They will assess the nature of the need and particularly lend a hand when there is a need for reinforcement. »

– A quote from Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Minister for the North Coast

Speaking on RDI Waves, Mr Bonnardel indicated that the army will deploy its support elsewhere in the province, although the Sept-Îles region remains the main concern. I have been told that the Hercules planes may be available to transport food to the Lower North Shore by the end of the day, the Secretary of Public Safety said.

Part of this region is actually cut off from the rest of the province by land as the only access bridge has been closed since May 30. The Touzel Bridge will partially reopen next week.

Federal Liberal MP Jean-Yves Duclos is due to provide more details on Ottawa’s help in fighting the Quebec fires at 4 p.m.

The CAF has already intervened elsewhere in the country this season to help fight the fires. Around 300 soldiers were deployed to Alberta in mid-May.