Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is promising wildfire evacuees will receive $500 each on top of other supports, and is ensuring the public his government is working to resolve delays in providing financial and housing assistance to those forced out of their homes.
The announcement comes one day after Saskatchewan ombudsman Sharon Pratchler demanded the government provide more immediate responses to evacuees, saying some were being forced to “make difficult choices on how to spend their last dollars.”
“We have worked quickly at times to try to address some of the concerns that have been raised by families that are not in their home and not in their home community,” Moe said, adding some “bottlenecks” in the aid system were detected.
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Evacuees over the age of 18 will be eligible for the $500 support funds. Moe said the funds will be provided to local community leadership, who will then distribute it to their eligible residents. The funding will be in addition to whatever financial supports evacuees were entitled to from the Canadian Red Cross or Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
The premier said local communities should receive the funds “as quickly as possible,” with calls happening throughout the day on Wednesday.
“This is a partnership with our community leaders, our chiefs, councils and First Nations communities,” he said.
Moe also said the government and SPSA are working to ensure any evacuees who have had trouble getting ahold of resources is gaining access to supports, “in the next number of hours, not days.”
As of Wednesday morning, 23 wildfires were actively burning in Saskatchewan. Six are classified as out of control, with an additional two classed as “protecting values,” meaning the fire is out of control but firefighters are focused on protecting properties and assets.
There are over 10,000 people out of their homes in Saskatchewan. However, around 7,000 evacuees are set to go home by the weekend with evacuation orders lifting in the La Ronge area starting Thursday.
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