Canada Climate Alliance

A National Call to Strengthen Canada’s Water Bomber Fleet

Every summer, Canadians watch as wildfires threaten our forests, our communities, our wildlife, the health of our families and millions of others.

Thick smoke blankets cities and towns, forcing families indoors, placing seniors and children at greater risk, and creating hazardous air quality that can spread thousands of kilometres across Canada and beyond.

Canada Climate Alliance has the opportunity to lead the way not just in Canada, but around the world in wildfire preparedness, but doing so requires the cooperation, and participation of our leading, most influential and respected corporate giants that we know and trust.

One of the most effective tools available to combat the devasting wildfire smoke that blankets our cities and threatens the health of millions of Canadians is the water bomber.

Water Bombers Save Forests, Save Communities and Save Lives

Water bombers are purpose-built aircraft capable of skimming across lakes to collect thousands of litres of water in seconds before returning to the fire line to make repeated drops.

Their ability to quickly attack new fires and support ground crews makes them one of Canada’s most valuable wildfire-fighting resources.

Canada is uniquely positioned for this strategy. Our country has more freshwater lakes than any other nation globally, providing countless locations where water bombers can rapidly refill and return to active fires.

This natural advantage should be fully utilized.

A Shared Provincial Responsibility

Wildfires do not recognize provincial borders.

Unlike the United States, where the federal government plays the primary role in national wildfire management, Canada’s wildfire responsibilities are largely provincial.

The federal government in Canada only manages a small portion of Canada’s forests, while each province and territory is responsible for the management of most forests and wildfire response within its jurisdiction.

Since each province and territory is responsible for such management and resources, the increase and modernization of water bomber fleets across each province can strengthen the country’s overall emergency response.

When one province experiences an especially severe wildfire season, additional aircraft from other jurisdictions may be able to assist through mutual aid agreements.

Building stronger fleets across the country helps improve Canada’s overall resilience.

Protecting the Health of Canadians

Wildfire smoke is far more than an inconvenience.

Poor air quality has been associated with increased risks for:

• Asthma attacks
• Chronic lung disease
• Heart and cardiovascular complications
• Respiratory infections
• Eye, nose and throat irritation
• Increased health risks for seniors
• Increased health risks for infants and children
• Reduced quality of life for millions of Canadians

Every wildfire successfully contained before it grows into a major disaster can help reduce smoke exposure for communities across Canada.

Clean air is not a luxury – It is fundamental to public health!

Canada’s Natural Advantage

Canada possesses one of the world’s greatest freshwater resources.

Thousands of lakes provide ideal locations for water bombers to refill quickly and efficiently, allowing aircraft to perform repeated water drops when fires occur nearby.

Combined with experienced wildfire personnel and modern aircraft, this geographic advantage can play an important role in protecting forests, communities and critical infrastructure.

Why Canada Climate Alliance Was Created

The Canada Climate Alliance was established to bring Canadians, organizations and businesses together around practical solutions that can strengthen climate resilience, protect public health and join the movement as we campaign to have the fleet of waterbombers increase across all provinces nationwide.

One of our key priorities is increasing public awareness of the importance of wildfire preparedness, including support from Canadians in aerial firefighting resources such as water bombers.

Our mission is to encourage provincial governments to make that commitment, and forcollaboration, education and constructive dialogue that supports healthier communities and cleaner air for future generations.

An Invitation to Canada’s Corporate Community

Canadian businesses have long demonstrated leadership during times of national challenge.

We are proud of the organizations who are coming on board (company names will be revealed soon) and posted on billboards and social digital media and we encourage consumers to stay loyal to these brand as they invest in a strategic campaign for a stronger wildfire preparednessto better the lives and health of all Canadians.

By joining the Alliance, participating organizations demonstrate their commitment to:

• Protecting the health of Canadians
• Supporting wildfire awareness
• Promoting cleaner air
• Encouraging long-term climate resilience
• Helping build stronger communities
• Supporting practical solutions for future generations

Together, governments, businesses, organizations and citizens can help build a healthier Canada.

A Call to Action

During severe wildfire seasons, hundreds of fires may burn across the country, with many proving difficult to control. So far, only beingin mid July of 2026, there are more than 950 active wildfiresrecorded and over one million hectares of forest have burned, and some individual uncontrolled wildfires have grown to sizes doubling the size of City of Toronto, threatening communities and generating smoke that affects people far beyond the fire zone.

Canada cannot prevent every wildfire. However, by encouraging provincial governments to strengthen and modernize their water bomber fleets as part of our national strategic campaign, we believe Canada can improve its ability to detect and respond to wildfires quickly. Earlier aerial response can help contain some fires before they become major emergencies, reducing the impact on communities, improving air quality, and better protecting the health of Canadians, our forests, and our wildlife.

But Canada can strengthen its preparedness.

Canada can improve its response.

Canada can invest in the tools that help protect our forests, our communities and our air.

Together, we can help build a future where cleaner air, healthier families and stronger wildfire preparedness become a national priority.

Support cleaner air.

Support stronger wildfire preparedness.

Support a healthier Canada for generations to come.

Join the Canada Climate Alliance.