Trudeau says Canadians are united around Fort McMurray as federal response gets underway

Prime Minister Justin Trudeausays the federal government is already responding towhat Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has called the largest fire evacuation in the province'shistory.

A raging wildfire has destroyed 1,600 homes and buildings in Fort McMurray, prompting the evacuation of some88,000 people, according to the latest update by provincial officials.

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"While the full extent of the damage isn't yet known, we certainly do know that for those who have been affected this fire is absolutely devastating. It'sa loss on a scale that is hard for many of us to imagine,"Trudeausaid in Ottawa Wednesday afternoon.

"I want to say to the residents of FortMcMurray: Canadians are with you, our thoughts are with you, our prayers are with you. As prime minister, I want you to know that our government and allCanadians will stand by you and support you now and when it is time to rebuild."

The prime ministerwas speaking to reporters in Ottawa on the six-month anniversary of his cabinet swearing-in, and began by addressing the wildfire situation in Alberta.

Trenton`s Wing Commander on helping Fort McMurray

8 years ago

Duration 1:48

Colonel Colin Keiver describes to Frederic Pepin how his aircraft are moving to help in Northern Alberta

"We have mobilized acertainnumber of Canadian Forces aircraft," saidTrudeauon Wednesday afternoonafter a CC-130Hercules departed for Cold Lake,Alta.,from the 8 Wing base in Trenton, Ont., with a crew to assist with the FortMcMurraywildfire.

Col.Colin Keiver, 8 Wing Commander, told CBC News a C-17 and an Airbus are on standby "to move if required."

The Department of National Defence has also supplied fourhelicopters to evacuate people as the wildfire continues to rage out of control.

Trudeau said he spoke with Notley by phone a day earlier and offered the federal government's "total support" and further assistance in the longterm.

"We are in close and active communication with the government of Alberta," the prime minister said.

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During an update on Wednesday,Notleysaid federal assistance hasso far focused on immediate emergency response.

"As we start to move down the road with respect to recovery, understanding the scope of the recovery efforts that we have before us, we'll engage with the federal government, with the municipality, and we will ensure that the citizens of Fort McMurray and surrounding communities are supported as they all come together to get through this."

Goodale on Fort McMurray wildfire

8 years ago

Duration 9:17

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale on what help is coming for Fort McMurray, where 80,000 people have fled a forest fire engulfing the city.

Notley said a memo of understanding about support from the military focussed on three elements: helicopter search and rescue for people caught or left behind the fire line in communities outside Fort McMurray, airlift of materials and personnel, such as firefighters, and, at a later point, the potential for ground support to assist in accessing the area to determine when it is safe for people to return.

The Alberta premier saidshe had all the powers she needed to deal with the catastrophewithout declaring a state of emergency.

Federal leaders offer support

"I really do want to highlight that Canada is a country where we look out for our neighbours and we are there for each other in difficult times. And certainly in FortMcMurray, the difficult times they are going through right now is something that we are going to unite around,"Trudeausaid earlier, as he spoke to his Liberal caucus Wednesday morning on Parliament Hill.

"I've been dealing with offers of support and calls from the Atlantic provinces to all the way out to B.C. for how they can support their friends and neighbours as people go through this difficult time,"Trudeausaid.

Trudeaualso said, in French, that he spoke to interim Conservative leaderRonaAmbrose Wednesday morning and they agreed that everyone needs to work together to help those affected by the evacuation order in FortMcMurray.

Ambrose, who represents the Edmonton ridingofSturgeon RiverParkland, said she was briefed on the federal government's response during a meeting earlier Wednesday withthe prime minister and Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, who is leading the federal response.

The Opposition leader expressed solidarity with those who have been forced to leavetheir homes behind,including many ofher own friends.

She also urged Canadians to open up their homes to those who have been forced toevacuateFort McMurray.

"There are 80,000 people without a home to go back to, at this point and need to be safely moved out of the region," said Ambrose.

Ambrose on the Fort McMurray fire

8 years ago

Duration 0:59

Opposition Leader Rona Ambrose spoke to reporters after her weekly caucus meeting

Tom Mulcairsaid while the New Democrats were reassured to hear the federal government was doing everything in its power to help Albertans, the images of fire officials battlinga ragingwildfiremake it clear there's going to be a need for "a lot of help" going forward.

"Like all Canadians, we have been shocked by the images that have been coming out of Fort McMurray," Mulcair said after meeting with his caucus on Wednesday.

"The number one priority is to make sure that people are safe," Mulcair said, adding that "we're all thinking of them, it's a terrible situation."

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said it was "encouraging" to see thefederal government provideevacuation and emergency aid in collaboration with the Alberta government.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Fort McMurray, those who have lost homes and businesses, and first responders who continue to fight to extinguish the blaze," May saidin a statement.

All four federal leadersTrudeau, Ambrose,Mulcairand May urged anyone interested in helping to donate to the Canadian Red Cross.

Federal response 'nimble' andunderway

Goodale said he has told his provincial counterparts and local politicians the federal government is monitoring the situation and is ready to act on a moment's notice.

"The full emergency management plan of the governments of Canada federal, provincial, municipal has clicked into place," the minister said in an interview with Rosemary Barton on CBC News Network'sPower & Politics.

He said the federal government is also helping track the fire's movement. "We're assisting with geomatics and satellite imagery so that Alberta can properly track the movement ofthis beast of a fire,"he said.

The fire is dangerous, Goodale said, and that people should be cautious.

"Obviously we will want to get people back to survey their property and their locations as soon as that's physically possible, but safety first and this beast is not done yet."

Goodalesaid earlier thatresidents affected by the evacuation order shouldfollow the directions of their municipal law enforcement and first responders.

"If you are being ordered to evacuate, please do so for your own safety. On behalf of all Canadians, we are grateful to all of the first responders working together to keep Albertans safe in this very difficult time," Goodale said.

Goodale says government looking at long term recovery of Fort McMurray

8 years ago

Duration 3:49

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says the government is looking at things like income supports and what the long term financial investment will need to be for the northern Alberta city.

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