The effects of hundreds of wildfires across Canada were felt throughout the northeastern U.S., leaving millions in hazy conditions and compromised air quality on Wednesday.
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00:00 There are hundreds of Armed Forces members now deployed.
00:04 Additionally, the CAF is helping with everything from delivering food and supplies to people
00:09 in Mingany, Quebec, to providing logistics support for water bombers at CFB Greenwood.
00:15 I want to recognize the air quality statements that have been issued by Environment Canada
00:19 because of wildfire smoke. People across the country are being affected.
00:23 We're seeing vulnerable people at risk, outdoor events cancelled, kids having to be
00:29 kept inside at recess. Well, the reality is, unfortunately, over
00:33 the past years we've seen extreme weather events increase in their intensity and their
00:39 impact on Canadians, as well as on their cost to families, to provinces, and to the federal
00:45 budget. We have, over the past years, seen atmospheric
00:50 rivers in BC causing devastating floods. We've seen Hurricane Fiona hit harder than hurricanes
00:59 in recent memory last year, and this year, the worst wildfire season we've ever had right
01:06 across the country. As of today, there are 2,293 wildfires that
01:11 have occurred in Canada. Approximately 3.8 million hectares have been burned.
01:17 And across the country, as of today, there are 414 wildfires burning, 239 of which are
01:23 determined to be out of control. Also, as of today, an estimated 20,183 people
01:30 remain evacuated from their homes and communities. And while this is an overall reduction in
01:35 parts of Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, where people have been able to return home,
01:41 many are still displaced. And as fires continue to threaten their communities,
01:45 we're working very closely with our provincial, territorial, and municipal partners and First
01:49 Nations partners to ensure that we provide support to those who have been evacuated.
01:54 We have also seen continued impacts to critical infrastructure in Quebec, such as roads and
01:58 rural closures, telecommunication interruptions, and high-voltage power lines being threatened
02:04 by the growing fires. I also want to assure Canadians that despite
02:08 the challenging start to the wildfire season, there are strong plans in place. We work very
02:13 closely with our provincial, territorial, and First Nations partners, and we have the
02:17 capacity to respond. The President was briefed on the wildfires
02:21 in Canada last week and has been regularly updated since. He directed his team to provide
02:27 impacted communities whatever support they need.
02:32 Our team here at the White House is in touch with the Government of Canada. We have already
02:36 deployed over 600 U.S. firefighters and personnel, as well as equipment like water bombers to
02:42 help Canada battle the fires. We also have been in close touch with state
02:48 and local leaders, including in Michigan, Illinois, and New York. And multiple agencies,
02:55 including the Environmental Protection Agency, CDC, and FEMA, are coordinating with state,
03:00 local, and tribal governments to get timely and accurate information out to communities
03:05 about local air quality conditions and what steps they can take to protect themselves.
03:10 I know for many communities out West, this is nothing new. They experience this every
03:15 year, but it is certainly getting worse. It is yet another alarming example of the ways
03:20 in which the climate crisis is disturbing our lives and our communities. That's why
03:25 from day one, President Biden rightfully recognized the climate crisis, climate change, as one
03:32 of the four crises facing our nation as he was coming into the Oval Office after being
03:38 inaugurated, and why he made tackling climate change one of his top priorities and has done
03:45 historic investments in doing just that.