Ottawa ‘working on’ Calgary firefighting compensation: MP
CALGARY The federal government won’t leave Calgary’s emergency management department holding the bag after the agency drained its coffers to support firefighting efforts in Fort McMurray, vows a city MP.
Kent Hehr, who is chairing a special cabinet committee struck to deal with aid and reconstruction efforts for the fire-ravaged community, spoke to the Canadian Club of Calgary on Wednesday, updating the federal government’s role in the disaster, which is likely to become the costliest in the nation’s history.
Hehr, who serves as minister of veterans affairs as well as associate minister of defence, said while officials with the Calgary Emergency Management Agency have expressed concerns about emptying its reserve of about $5 million to help with the firefighting efforts, they can expect a sympathetic ear in Ottawa.
“We’re aware of the situation,” Hehr said. “I want to applaud CEMA for their yeoman service and their speedy efforts in reacting to the situation in Fort McMurray,” he continued.
“We’re working with our partners and I know that the prime minister and I have both talked about this issue and we’re aware of it and continue working on it.”
At an update to Calgary city council last week, the head of CEMA said the city didn’t hesitate in stepping up with equipment and support for Fort McMurray, and it’s hoped the federal government will show similar urgency in helping the city recoup those expenditures.
Hehr told the luncheon crowd at the Ranchmen’s Club the government remains committed to staying the course to help rebuild Fort McMurray, pledging to cover 90 per cent of eligible damage costs suffered by the city.
The first-term MP also addressed concerns the federal government turned down offers of firefighting aid in the early days of the massive blaze, with the U.S., Mexico, Russia, Australia and others all pledging support. Hehr said experts on the front lines are best able to determine what help is needed, and they should be the ones making those decisions.
“You can’t armchair quarterback and second guess decisions that are made,” he said. “The government of Alberta and others made the best decisions they could with the information they had.
“I have every confidence that (Public Safety Minister Ralph) Goodale and Premier (Rachel) Notley are working toward whatever’s best to keep the fires to a minimum and support people on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Hehr said he remains committed to veterans, even after an ongoing class-action lawsuit by a group of Afghanistan veterans resurfaced last week.
The Liberal government came under fire in the House of Commons after it returned to court, seeking a ruling on the previous Conservative government’s argument that it has no special obligation to provide lifelong pensions for injured soldiers.
Despite government lawyers making an appeal for a ruling on the contentious issue, Hehr put the ball back in the court of the group that initiated the action.
He said that, since taking power, the Liberals have made major strides in helping Canada’s veterans, including boosting benefits for former soldiers by $5.6 billion in the 2016 budget.
“Lawsuits can only be dropped by plaintiffs. I’ll remind everybody, the plaintiffs’ lawyer (Don Sorochan) is 90 per cent happy with what we’ve done and he acknowledges the success and the swift movement we have made on veterans’ issues,” he said.
“We are working on ensuring that veterans and their families are taken care of better than the last government.”
The veterans argue new rules implemented in 2006 discriminated against them by offering lump sum payments as opposed to lifelong pensions that had previously been offered.
“You can’t armchair quarterback and second guess decisions that are made. The government of Alberta and others made the best decisions they could with the information they had.