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John Rustad Unveils Plan to Protect British Columbia from Wildfires: “It’s Time for Common-Sense Prevention”
“Wildfires are devastating our communities, displacing families, damaging our lungs, and wreaking havoc on our economy. Under the NDP, the approach has been backwards—spending billions fighting fires instead of preventing them. It’s time to rethink our strategy.”— John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia
October 5th, Kelowna, BC: John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, announced a comprehensive new plan today to improve wildfire prevention and protect communities, particularly those in the Okanagan region, which has been severely impacted by wildfires in recent years. Rustad criticized the NDP government for its failure to properly address the growing wildfire crisis and emphasized the need for a common-sense approach to landscape and wildfire management.
“The Okanagan and other parts of BC have suffered devastating losses because the NDP continues to focus on firefighting rather than fire prevention,” said Rustad. “We need to flip the script. The math is backwards—under Eby, we’re spending nine times more fighting fires than we are preventing them. It’s time for a better strategy that prioritizes prevention and safety.”
A New Approach to Wildfire Management
Rustad’s plan calls for a comprehensive review of current wildfire policies, aiming to create a proactive strategy that prioritizes fire prevention and risk reduction. Key components of the plan include:
- Prioritizing Fire Prevention Over Firefighting: Under the current NDP government, British Columbia has spent nine times as much on firefighting as it has on fire prevention. The Conservative Party’s plan will shift the focus to prevention, investing in forest management and new technologies to reduce wildfire risks before they start.
- A Comprehensive Fire Management Review: Rustad called for a full review of BC’s current approach to landscape and wildfire management, with a focus on new technologies and modern best practices for preventing wildfires. “We need to stop being reactive and start being proactive in managing our forests,” said Rustad.
- Private and Public Investment in Fire Prevention: The Conservative Party will foster public-private partnerships to encourage investment in fire prevention technologies, forest management, and fire-resistant infrastructure. “Our forests are critical to BC’s economy, environment, and way of life. We must ensure that they are managed in a way that protects them for future generations,” Rustad emphasized.
Protecting the Okanagan Region
Rustad specifically highlighted the Okanagan region, which has seen a significant increase in wildfire frequency and intensity in recent years. The region’s communities, businesses, and wineries have been hard-hit by the fires, causing devastating financial losses and displacing families.
“The Okanagan has become ground zero for BC’s wildfire crisis, and it’s clear that the NDP’s approach isn’t working,” said Rustad. “We will ensure that this region gets the resources it needs to protect homes, businesses, and lives from wildfires.”
A Commitment to Action
Rustad concluded by reaffirming his commitment to making fire prevention a top priority for a Conservative government. “British Columbians can no longer afford to live under constant threat of wildfire,” said Rustad. “We need a government that will act with urgency and common sense to protect our communities, our forests, and our future.”
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For further information, please contact: [email protected]
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