Waterbombers for Wildfires
Canadians Overwhelmingly Support Federal Investment in National Waterbomber Fleet to Combat Wildfires
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Eight in ten Canadians want the federal government to build a national fleet of water bombers to fight wildfires, according to a new poll released by De Havilland Canada. The survey, conducted by Pollara, found that 89 percent of Canadians believe federal investment in firefighting aircraft is necessary, according to Financial Post.
The push comes as wildfires grow worse across Canada every year. De Havilland Canada makes the Canadair 515 water bomber — a plane designed to scoop water from lakes and drop it on fires. The company says a national fleet could be shared between provinces and even loaned to other countries when Canadian fire season is over.
Pollara Survey Finds Near-Universal Support for Federal Action
De Havilland Canada commissioned Pollara to study how Canadians feel about wildfires and the country's response to them. The results were striking. Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they want the federal government to invest in firefighting aircraft, according to Goderich Signal Star. That level of support cuts across political lines and regions.
The poll shows Canadians are paying attention to wildfire risk. Fires have burned millions of hectares in recent years. Communities from British Columbia to Nova Scotia have faced evacuations. Canadians appear to want a stronger, centrally coordinated response rather than leaving each province to handle it alone, according to Ontario Farmer.
Provinces Could Draw on a Shared National Fleet When Needed
Neil Sweeney, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at De Havilland Canada, says the model is simple. The federal government buys the planes. Provinces call on them when a fire breaks out. No single province has to carry the full cost of owning and maintaining a large fleet of aircraft, according to Cold Lake Sun.
Sweeney also proposes making the fleet available to other countries during non-Canadian wildfire seasons. Canada's fire season runs roughly from spring to fall. That leaves aircraft idle for months. Leasing or lending the planes to countries like those in southern Europe — where fires peak in summer — could offset costs and build goodwill, according to The Whig.
Water Bomber Fleet Could Create Canadian Manufacturing Jobs
De Havilland Canada is not just making a safety argument. Sweeney says building a national fleet would create jobs in Canada. Manufacturing the Canadair 515 requires engineers, assemblers, and skilled tradespeople. A large government order would put Canadians to work in high-skill roles, according to Toronto Sun.
The company positions this as a win on two fronts. Canada gets better wildfire protection. Canadian workers get stable, well-paying jobs in aerospace manufacturing. That dual pitch may be part of why the idea is drawing such broad public support, according to Financial Post.
Wildfires Are Getting Worse — and Canada Is Not Ready
Canada's wildfire problem is accelerating. In 2023, fires burned more than 18 million hectares — the worst season on record. Smoke choked cities as far south as New York. Thousands of Canadians were forced from their homes. The scale of the destruction has made the status quo hard to defend, according to Cold Lake Sun.
Right now, provinces buy and manage their own aircraft. Some have more resources than others. When one province faces a massive fire, help from others can be slow. A national fleet would change that. It would mean faster response times and more planes in the air when it matters most, according to Goderich Signal Star.
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