The Canadian government is dedicating $257.6 million to lease more aerial firefighting aircraft, including waterbombers, to combat the growing threat of severe wildfires across the country. This new investment, part of Budget 2025, aims to strengthen the resources available to provinces and territories, including New Brunswick, during increasingly intense fire seasons.

This announcement comes as Canada reflects on 2025 being the second worst wildfire season in its history. “We can not wait to strengthen our firefighting capabilities and this is exactly why we are making these investments in firefighting aircraft such as waterbombers,” said the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, in a news release from Public Safety Canada. “These aircraft will help us respond faster, slow the spread of fires, and minimize the impact of wildfires on communities across Canada.”

Strengthening Local and National Response

Aerial firefighting is crucial for protecting lives and property, especially in remote or hard-to-reach areas. The newly leased aircraft will deliver water or fire retardant, help slow a fire’s spread, and provide critical support for ground crews. These resources will be coordinated nationally through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, ensuring they can be deployed where they are needed most.

For New Brunswickers, this means additional federal support will be available to supplement provincial firefighting efforts during critical periods. While the province manages its own wildfire response, this federal fleet provides an essential backup for overwhelming situations.

“This investment will strengthen our national wildfire resilience by allowing us to provide provinces and territories with critical aerial firefighting capacity when they need it most,” added the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

Part of a Broader Strategy

This funding is one component of a larger federal commitment to wildfire preparedness. Since 2019, the government has invested nearly $1 billion to improve wildfire resilience across Canada. Other major initiatives include:

• $284 million for the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate (FMWCC) Program, which funds equipment and firefighter training.
• $285 million for the Wildfire Resilient Future Initiative (WRFI) to support innovation and prevention.
• $169.9 million for WildFireSat, the world’s first government satellite designed specifically to monitor active wildfires.

By investing in technology, training, and now a bolstered aerial fleet, the government aims to create a more robust and proactive defence against the devastating impact of wildfires.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will this new funding help New Brunswick?

While New Brunswick has its own firefighting resources, this federal investment creates a nationally coordinated fleet of aircraft that can be deployed to assist provinces and territories during emergencies. If New Brunswick were to face a particularly severe wildfire season, it could request assistance from this federally supported fleet.

What kind of aircraft are being acquired?

The announcement specifies that the funding is for leasing firefighting aircraft, which could include waterbombers or other specialized planes used to support ground crews and drop water or retardant on fires.

Why is the government leasing aircraft instead of buying them?

The official news release states the funds are to “lease firefighting aircraft.” Leasing provides flexibility to acquire the right type and number of aircraft needed for a given season and avoids the high long-term costs associated with purchasing, storing, and maintaining a permanent fleet.

Is this the only federal support for wildfire fighting?

No. This $257.6 million investment is part of nearly $1 billion committed since 2019. Other federal funding supports firefighter training, the purchase of equipment for provinces, and the development of new technologies like the WildFireSat monitoring system.