CHARBONNEAU – There’s no place for politics when it comes to wildfires

THERE SHOULD BE NO politicking when it comes to emergencies such as pandemics and wildfires.

During the pandemic, the opposition BC Liberals (now the BC United Party) and the governing BC NDP pulled together to implement necessary, but controversial, vaccine mandates.

It could hardly have been otherwise. For the opposition not to provide a united front would have been political suicide. It would be like they opposed clean drinking water.

B.C.’s wildfires presented a similar opportunity to demonstrate a united front to fight the explosive wildfire threat to lives and property.

But the wildfire that rampaged through the Shuswap opened up a breach in what should be a united front.

The BC NDP has accused some opposition MLAs of encouraging residents to disobey firefighters. Opposition MLAs responded by saying that the government was refusing to listen to critics of its response to the fires.

The Bush Creek East fire has destroyed or damaged nearly 170 properties in the Shuswap area during the province’s worst fire season on record.

The New Democrats blame the opposition BC United for supporting residents who refused to obey the North Shuswap evacuation order.

Kamloops MLAs Peter Milobar and Todd Stone, along with Greg Kyllo, issued a statement calling for “critical supplies” to be sent to North Shuswap residents who stayed to fight the fire, despite an evacuation order.

“These individuals should receive the supplies they need to continue to protect properties and structures in their communities. This government must order an end to this blockade of vital resources immediately,” said the statement.

The blockage they referred to was the one closing the Trans Canada after a wildfire swept across the road.

The statement presents two political problems for the BC United. The first is somewhat understandable because it pits lack of sympathy for residents of Shuswap who defied an evacuation against the desire to help those same residents who fought to save their lives and property.

“People elect MLAs in various areas of the province to be their voices, especially in a time of crisis and worry,” said Milobar.

The second political problem is more contentious. Calling for supplies to be sent to residents of the Shuswap places the BC United party on the same side of politics as the BC Solidarity Movement and Freedom Kamloops.

These two freedom groups opposed the vaccine mandate and supported the Freedom Convoy of 2022. They tried to force their way through the blockade on the Trans Canada highway to bring supplies to the residents of the Shuswap who defied the evacuation order.

The New Democrats were having a field day.

New Democrats MLA Ravi Parmar said the BC United statement had encouraged residents to “disobey orders from emergency responders,” and had put “the lives of first responders and families on the line.”

And BC United couldn’t seem to deliver a consistent message. Kelowna-area NDP MLA Renee Merrifield gleefully said “It’s been a bizarre week for the BC United Party,” pointing to a social-media post by the party blasting Conservative Leader John Rustad for supporting people who battle wildfires threatening their homes.

There is no place for politics when it comes to fighting wildfires.

David Charbonneau is a retired TRU electronics instructor who hosts a blog at http://www.eyeviewkamloops.wordpress.com.