BC United says if elected this October, it plans to revamp the province’s wildfire-fighting strategy.
In a release Tuesday, the party says it is committed to making the province a “global leader in wildfire prevention and protection.”
The main reforms it wants to make in the wildfire policy include a wildfire prevention and response institute using expert local and Indigenous knowledge based in Kamloops, advanced fire suppression technology such as specialized drones, mass water delivery systems, night-vision, and a full-time firefighting service.
BC United Shadow Minister for Forests, Water, Land and Resource Mike Bernier said the province “cannot continue with the same lack of wildfire preparedness and action from David Eby’s NDP government year after year and expect to see a different result.”
“British Columbia can and should be a leader on the world stage when it comes to implementing cutting-edge wildfire strategy, technology and training – creating a world-class Wildfire Prevention and Response Institute in Kamloops will do just that,” he said.
The party says it will set aside $78 million of funding and will partner with the private sector to make the institute a reality.
BC United House Leader and MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson Todd Stone said in the long-term, money will be saved by this “cutting-edge initiative.”
“During the off-season we will be able to export the Institute’s resources to other jurisdictions to fight fires and provide training – generating additional revenue and enhancing global wildfire response efforts,” he said.
BC United says having the centre in Kamloops will help them partner with TRU Wildfire, an innovative partnership between Thompson Rivers University and the BC Wildfire Service.
This announcement is an addition to BC United’s Bold Wildfire Policy Reform announcement last year.