The New Brunswick government says $40 million will be invested over the next several years to prepare for the threat of wildfires.
“With the expected impacts of climate change to our province, we must begin to make large investments now to be prepared for future challenges,” said Natural Resources Minister John Herron.
It is part of funding through the Canadian Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy. The strategy focuses on a societal approach and the adoption of the FireSmart Canada Program.
Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the delivery of the partnership and funding is a commitment to work together as provinces and territories prepare to fight worsening forest fires.
In May 2023, Charlotte County – near Saint Andrews – was the source of one of the largest forest fires in a decade, burning more than 500 hectares of land and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes.
The federal government has allocated $12.8 million to New Brunswick over the next four years, according to a release from the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development. It will be matched by the provincial government to the tune of $25.6 million.
An additional $7.2 million will be provided under the FireSmart Canada program over the next four years, which is slated to launch in the spring, according to the release.
According to the government, it has spent $63 million on fire suppression over the past 10 years, including nearly $9 million on the 2023 fire season.
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