As wildfires worsen air quality, Doug Ford urges Ontarians to avoid campfires — but stops short of a fire ban

As forest-fire smoke from Northern Ontario and Quebec blows south and causes breathing problems, Premier Doug Ford is urging people to be careful with open flames — raising questions as to why a province-wide fire ban has not been declared.

“I’m asking every Ontarian, please do not light any campfires,” Ford said Wednesday as he faced questions in the legislature about his government’s commitment to fighting climate change and its impact on an extraordinary wildfire season across Canada from unusually hot, dry conditions.

“We are in for, probably, the most severe fire season our province has ever experienced and people are quite rightly worried for their immediate future and whether this is the new reality,” NDP Leader Marit Stiles told the legislature’s daily question period.

Stiles said the Ontario’s heavy reliance on natural gas-fired electricity plants at peak times is contributing to climate change.

Ford replied that the main causes of forest fires are split between lightning strikes and “people staring campfires,” accusing New Democrats of trying to “politicize” the fire situation.

With 50 active fires in Ontario and almost triple that number in Quebec, Natural Resources and Forestry Minister Graydon Smith said there are fire restrictions in most of eastern, central, northeast and northwest regions with municipalities able to impose their own as warranted.

“It’s an enormous province with different conditions in some different areas … we’re taking action where we feel is appropriate.”

He said the government recognizes “climate change is real and happening.”

“But you know, firefighting is very much about the here and now, and keeping people in Ontario safe and keeping communities safe,” added Smith, the former mayor of Bracebridge in Muskoka.

“The message to everybody is clear that this is a very delicate situation. People need to take a level of personal responsibility. The rules apply to them, they need to make sure they’re following them to ensure that we do not have any unintentionally set man-made fires.”

A smoky haze has descended on Ottawa, Toronto and other cities and towns as wind patterns shift, leading to air quality warnings advising people to take precautions to avoid respiratory distress, such as staying indoors and avoiding outdoor exercise.

“The severity of forest fires increased because of the dry, hot weather,” said Green Leader Mike Schreiner, who called on the government to hire more firefighting crews in addition to reducing Ontario’s carbon footprint.

“As a society, we have to confront the challenge we’re facing.”

Liberal MPP Stephen Blais (Orleans) said the Ford government’s 2018 decision to cancel 758 green energy projects and build new highways — such as the 413 and Bradford Bypass — is “going to make climate change worse.”

Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1