The Government of Canada is concentrating on strengthening our long-term response while maintaining people’s safety as wildfire seasons become longer and more extreme. Nations are progressively shifting focus over to their partners to give common guide during out of control fire crises and other outrageous climate occasions. We are bolstering our collaborative efforts with allies as Canada faces a wildfire season that has already ranked among the worst ever.
The United States Ambassador to Canada, David L. Cohen, and Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, signed a deal today to strengthen their long-standing cooperation in the fight against wildland fires and to protect communities from this threat brought on by climate change.
Natural Resources Canada and the Departments of Agriculture and Interior of the United States of America have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that builds on and expands on their decades-long relationship involving the exchange of wildland fire management resources by:
defining the procedures for transferring these resources; and establishing a framework that encourages cooperation and mutual aid.
By agreeing to this arrangement, the United States of America and Canada are ensuring a more effective exchange of resources for fighting wildfires across international borders, which enhances citizen protection. Additionally, it makes it easier to share information, which increases knowledge of wildland fire management.
Prior to this MOU, the sole focus of reciprocal support for wildfires was suppression and was based on a number of individual arrangements and procedures. By broadening the scope of cooperation to include risk mitigation, prevention, research, innovation, and technical cooperation, this arrangement will guarantee that mutual aid is effectively and efficiently distributed on both sides of the border where it is most needed.
As a result of the arrangement, both nations acknowledge the advantages of continuing to collaborate across borders using shared values. In light of climate change, this arrangement and similar initiatives demonstrate how countries can collaborate internationally to address the growing difficulties posed by extreme weather.
The United States of America and Canada will continue to collaborate on climate change adaptation and mitigation, safeguarding communities, livelihoods, and our environment for future generations.
