Photo From Twitter/Alberta Wildfire, Deep Creek Wildfire Complex

By Sheldon Spackman

Provincial Politics

Alberta premier downplays link between wildfires and climate change

Jun 8, 2023 | 2:52 PM

EDMONTON – Premier Danielle Smith says the government is bringing in arson investigators from outside the province to trace the cause of the unprecedented wildfires in Alberta.

In an interview with Real Talk Ryan Jespersen, he asked Smith how she reconciles her government’s energy policies with the fact experts have linked this year’s extreme fire season to climate change.

READ MORE: Wildfire roundup: What you need to know about blazes burning across Canada

Smith responded that she’s concerned about arson when it comes to about 175 wildfires in Alberta with no known cause and said the province would bring in the additional investigators.

Jespersen noted, however, that the hot and dry conditions that allow fires to grow are part of a changing climate.

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Smith then said Alberta needs to do a better job as government to build fireguards around communities.

She isn’t the only conservative politician to downplay the link between the wildfires and climate change, but scientists have said fires are larger and more intense, often burning throughout the night, due to climate change.

In the same interview, Smith played down an earlier pledge to create a council of defeated candidates to advise her in Edmonton.

Smith says her United Conservative Party caucus has cabinet ministers and other experienced legislature members in municipalities surrounding the provincial capital from whom she can draw policy advice. She says she can also call on city councillors and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

Smith promised last week to craft a council of defeated UCP candidates to advise her on policy in the capital.

The Opposition NDP swept all 20 seats in Edmonton in the May 29 election, and Smith’s comments were widely criticized as a slap in the face to the provincial representatives Edmontonians chose.

Smith’s UCP garnered 49 seats to win a second consecutive majority government, and the premier is set to announce her new cabinet Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023.

The Canadian Press