Question Period (17 November 2025)

From Hansard (17 November 2025)

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Government Response to Wildfires in the North

Vicki Mowat: — We don’t know which projects they’re bringing forward to the federal government, Mr. Speaker, because they won’t release that list.

Mr. Speaker, the devastation across northern Saskatchewan this summer was unlike anything we’ve ever seen. The Sask Party has failed the people impacted by the wildfires time and time again. Now we have proof, in the form of bills, that this government is charging wildfire victims tens of thousands of dollars in PST [provincial sales tax] per household to rebuild their homes and get their lives back. As one Denare Beach resident said, “They’re profiting off our ashes and memories.”

How does this government justify profiting off of the pain of wildfire victims? 

Hon. Tim McLeod: —  Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And of course the forest fire season was an unprecedented season this summer, and so too were the supports that this government put in place for the victims of those forest fires, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we increased the per diem amounts for the evacuees. We established the recovery task team that’s put over $20 million into the recovery efforts primarily focusing on the people of Denare Beach, making sure that everyone who suffered a loss in that community not only had an unprecedented time of cleanup — all of those lots have now been cleaned up and restored to a construction-ready phase — but we also included supports for those families to make sure that everybody has a roof over their head as we approach the winter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 

 

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Nothing says supporting wildfire victims like sending them a 10- to 20- to 30-thousand-dollar bill for PST. Shame on this minister. I can’t believe this. First they fail to protect northern communities, then they fail to support the evacuees. Water bombers grounded, chaos at every turn, where luckily someone was not killed. And now the government is looking to take millions of dollars out of the pockets of my constituents who lost their homes.

Can the Premier tell us the exact dollar figure he will charge the people of the North as they begin to rebuild their lives?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the member opposite for the question because it gives me an opportunity to correct the record on something that he’s been saying repeatedly. He talks about grounded airplanes. Yes, there were water bombers that were under repair, Mr. Speaker, over the summer. But he fails to recognize the fact that we called in an unprecedented number of replacement bombers to help fight those forest fires, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the comments that are being made, constantly requiring correction of the record. We have implemented unprecedented supports for the people who have suffered tragic loss. And we will not exploit those people, Mr. Speaker, as they experienced that tragedy. Thank you. 

 

Jordan McPhail: — Well, Mr. Speaker, I guess I wouldn’t know what the exact term of sending a 10- to 20- to 30-thousand-dollar bill would be, but maybe the minister said it in his response to my first question there.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve got the proof of this government’s cruelty here today. Harley Vliegenthart, one of the heroic volunteer firefighters who tried to defend Denare Beach without any help from this government, told me his PST bill is more than $28,000.  

Nathan Pitka and his family lived in East Trout Lake for 50 years. He provided a PST bill for $25,000. Nathan asked yesterday, people so much?” That’s a great question.  

So my question to the minister: why?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And as I indicated in my previous answer, we have unprecedented supports set out for the support of the individuals who have suffered from the forest fires, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — I’m just going to ask . . . And actually when I was standing, you’re making comments on . . . So I would just ask that both sides listen to the questions and to the answers.  Minister.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The supports that we put in place through the recovery task team are there specifically for the individuals who did not have insurance coverage, Mr. Speaker. When we replace properties that were damaged due to forest fires, of course the insurance that is in place for those individuals kicks in first, and then as I said, unprecedented supports — $20 million of support from this government supporting those families. We will continue to support those families and the communities that suffered losses as a result of these tragic fires. 

 

Jordan McPhail: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want the people of the North to know that when I asked that question, that minister had nothing to do but smile at me from across this floor.

Mr. Speaker, I am joined today in this legislature by Donna and Jean Champagne, who lost their home in Denare Beach in the fires. They are in Moose Jaw now and wondering if they will ever return home. The mismanagement of the wildfire crisis by this Sask Party government was the final straw. They don’t know if it’s worth going back. They’re looking for a commitment that this government will support a proper rebuild and proper access to the critical services like health care.

Will the Minister of Public Safety sit down with the Champagnes to hear directly from them after question period today, yes or no?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. I’m happy to sit down and speak with anyone who’s prepared to talk about their experience, and I welcome these individuals to their Legislative Assembly, Mr. Speaker. Would be happy to meet with them after question period to hear what they have to say. Thank you.

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