Question Period (6 November 2025)

From Hansard (6 November 2025)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 11:01:45 AM.

Government Response to Wildfires in the North

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday we heard directly from a true Saskatchewan hero in Harley Vliegenthart. He joins us here today in the legislature as well.

Harley was one of the 11 volunteer firefighters who stayed back to try to protect Denare Beach while the Wolf fire raced towards their community. The community burned to the ground, and this Sask Party government made excuses for why there wasn’t enough resources provided. But yesterday the Public Safety minister actually had the audacity to say that Harley’s story was made up and that there were countless resources sent to Denare.

Will the minister commit to meeting with Harley right after question period so that this Saskatchewan hero can set him straight?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I’ll once again welcome back Harley to his Legislative Assembly. And I will correct the record, Mr. Speaker. What the member from Cumberland just suggested that I said was not what I said, and I would encourage him to review the record to confirm that.

Mr. Speaker, Harley is one of hundreds of brave men and women who fought forest fires across northern Saskatchewan this year, Mr. Speaker — unprecedented forest fires with unprecedented responses, Mr. Speaker, from our brave men and women.

I did misspeak yesterday when I said 34 municipal and volunteer fire departments fought forest fires this year, Mr. Speaker; it was 64. Sixty-four municipal and volunteer fire departments responded. Over 1,000 brave men and women fought forest fires across northern Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker.

Our government has introduced unprecedented supports in response to that, helping these communities rebuild, Mr. Speaker. And as we rebuild alongside these communities we are happy to make sure that we are doing so in a way that protects those communities in the future and that they have the confidence in their government and in their communities in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---

Back to 2025/2026 Session