Climate Change & the Environment

Wildfires platforms

Here's what the 2024 BC election parties are promising.

BC NDP

  • Increase active forest management to proactively remove highly-flammable material and prune tree stands

    "Helping protect homes, communities and local watersheds by ramping up active forest management. By partnering with communities and First Nations to proactively remove highly flammable woody material and prune tree stands and remove debris, we can slow or stop the spread of wildfires and protect primary water sources for communities – while making better use of all fibre by supplying local mills with fire- damaged timber and waste that would have otherwise been burned or decayed." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Re-introduce the use of controlled forest burns to prevent and contain forest fires
  • Plant wetter tree species in ecosystems with significant wildfire history

    "Maximize the use of wetter species within ecosystems historically dominated by wildfires - helping to keep wildfires on the ground and allow for more opportunities to stop wildfires from spreading. More diverse species mixes in specific areas will also enhance wildlife habitat value." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Implement more selective logging, fuel load management, and tree species mix

    "Implement more selective logging, fuel load management, and species mix in interface areas. The objective is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in areas adjacent to communities." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Do a complete review of wildfire management
  • Work with private contractors for wildfire response

    "Work with contractors and the private sector to empower them to be able to act quickly in response to emerging wildfire issues." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Provide local people and communities with wildfire training and equipment, and always allow local volunteers
    1. "Provide local people and communities with training and equipment.
    2. Ensure local volunteers and contractors are be able to call-in to support their efforts."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Support research into new technologies and methods for firefighting

    "Work with universities to support the research and implementation of new technologies and methods for firefighting." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC Greens

  • Dedicate $100M/year for preventive and harm-reduction measures, including fuel management treatments to mitigate wildfire risks

    "Dedicate $100 million in annual funding for preventative and harm-reduction measures, including fuel management treatments to mitigate wildfire risks." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

    "Increase the scale of fuel treatments, such as forest thinning and fuel removal, to reduce fire hazards." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Improve communication about wildfires

    "Improve communication about wildfires through engagement, better live updates, more trusted information and more detailed coverage." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Fully implement all recommendations from the Abbot Chapman report to improve firefighting strategies and community safety
  • Build on FireSmart and wildland urban interface management programmes

    "Build on FireSmart and wildland urban interface management programs to foster neighborhood resilience against wildfires." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Provide funding and technical assistance to private landowners to improve wildfire preparedness

    "Provide funding and technical assistance to private landowners to improve outreach and wildfire preparedness." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Hire additional seasonal and year-round firefighters to ensure adequate staffing
  • Invest $50M/year in community safety and firefighting responses
  • Implement strategies addressing firefighter recruitment and retention issues

    "Implement strategies to fix recruitment and retention issues within the firefighting community." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Incorporate local knowledge into first responders' training

    "Enhance agency capacity and resources for local firefighting teams to improve response effectiveness. Incorporate local knowledge into first responders’ training." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Ensure access to mental health support for survivors of wildfires and firefighters
  • Expand the use of prescribed and cultural burning

    "Expand the use of prescribed and cultural burning while supporting Indigenous fire stewardship practices." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Mandate that industry adopt better practices to enhance forest resilience, including fuel thinning and removal
  • Proactively engage communities to build trust, educate, and empower local decisions on wildfire management

    "• Proactively engage communities to build trust, educate, and empower local decisions regarding wildfire management.

    • Invest in initiatives that support communities and build social cohesion to enhance resilience.

    • Develop and implement place-based solutions tailored to local needs and conditions.

    • Establish a new cooperative and collaborative approach to wildfire management that includes all levels of government—Indigenous, local, and federal.

    • Engage industry, civil society, local experts, non- government organizations, and citizens to leverage diverse resources and knowledge for adapting to landscape and wildfire challenges."

    BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Looking for the parties' positions on other topics?

See our full 2024 BC election platform comparison
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