FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                 December 1, 2021

WHITEHORSE – Today, the Yukon government announced it had received the Review of the Yukon Fire Marshal’s Office fire suppression and rescue resource distribution final report. It said in a media advisory officials would provide a technical briefing to the media on the morning of Thursday, December 2 – the final day of the 2021 fall sitting.

The review and recommendations according to the RFP tender stated the final report had to be in the hands of the government by September 1, 2021. This raises the question as to why the report is so late or whether or not the government has had the report for a while and purposely held off on the release of it until the end of the Legislature.

In the wake of the Keno City Hotel fire last year, a recent house fire in Destruction Bay, and upon hearing rural fire service concerns, on November 17, Kluane MLA Wade Istchenko asked the Minister for an update on the review, and the timeline for the release of a final report. The Minister responded the review was in the final stages.

“By releasing the report on the final day of the 2021 fall sitting, the Liberals are denying MLAs the opportunity to review this important report and ask questions,” said Istchenko. “Once again, the Liberals are avoiding transparency on an important issue. This review is critical for rural Yukoners who are facing fire suppression services that in some cases are over an hour away from their homes.”

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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Press Secretary
(867) 393-7026