The Opposition NDP’s effort to establish an independent public inquiry into the government’s response to a wildfire that devastated This summer a village in northern Saskatchewan has been locked down.
The motion brought forward by Saskatchewan NDP MLA Jordan McPhail was rejected by the provincial government when it was tabled Tuesday.
McPhail has led the NDP’s campaign to get answers about the wildfire that devastated Denare Beach, Sask., in June.
More than 200 homes were destroyed as a result of the fire.
Instead, the provincial government is highlighting the independent review of the 2025 wildfire season it announced earlier this week.
MNP is ready to carry out the review. The government said the review will include opportunities for people directly affected by the bushfires to share their experiences and perspectives, and the results will be made public.
McPhail said the government’s solution is not good enough.
“When the government chooses who will speak at a review, I think that will answer for itself,” he said.
The government’s decision has also not gone down well with Denare Beach residents, some of whom were in the legislature on Tuesday.
Tasha Young, who lost her home and business in the fire, said she had faith the government would do the right thing after Premier Scott Moe appeared before the legislature on Monday and apologized for not visiting Denare Beach sooner.
Now, he believes the government’s decision to block a public inquiry is “crazy.”
“Rejecting public inquiry makes us wonder, so why wouldn’t you want to give us the answers everyone is asking for?” she said.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe appeared before the legislature to apologize to Denare Beach residents for waiting four months to visit the fire-ravaged community, where more than 200 homes burned in early June.
Dustin Trumbley, another Denare Beach resident, continued his call to Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod. to resign from his position.
Trumbley said Moe should do the right thing and ask for McLeod to resign.
““I think he’s not capable of doing his job or he’s not doing it properly,” Trumbley said.
Rhonda Werbicki is another Denare Beach resident whose home burned in the June wildfire.
Werbicki said he doesn’t understand why the government isn’t listening to calls for an investigation.
“If they really did everything they could to help us in the north, why wouldn’t they want a public inquiry? Why wouldn’t they want to prove us wrong?” Werbicki said.
