How big a fleet of water bombers does Canada actually need?

Josie Sabatino is right that wildfire is now a national interest. But a national interest still needs a national standard, and Canada has not set one.

An aerial view of wildfires burning near Flin Flon, Man., at the end of May 2025. We are shopping for water bombers with no way to say how many we need. Reframing the mission as national, does not fix that. It raises the stakes on getting it wrong, writes John Gradek. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Manitoba

Opinion

BY JOHN GRADEK

August 20, 2026

Josie Sabatino is right about the big thing (“Canada’s wildfire strategy comes with a price tag,” Aug. 12). The pages of The Hill Ti...

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper.

Cancel anytime.

Already a Subscriber?

Get Weekend Point of View Newsletter

A round up of the past weekâ€™s opinion writers and columnists on Saturdays and Sundays.

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy

FOLLOW THE HILL TIMES: