TORONTO—During Question Period May 16, Michael Mantha, MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin pressed Graydon Smith, minister of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) on staffing issues in his ministry.
MPP Mantha said conservation officers and wildland forest firefighters have raised alarms about staff leaving their positions in search of better pay. He raised these concerns with Minister Smith in the fall of 2022 after receiving concerns from employees currently working with the MNRF.
“If employees are not paid a fair wage, they will end up looking for work elsewhere,” said MPP Mantha. “Despite the demands placed on these MNRF employees they are being grossly underpaid by this government.”
MPP Mantha highlighted the effects these low wage policies are already having on communities across Northern Ontario. In Chapleau there are four fire crews set to operate this season, down from 10 last season. With deadly forest fires raging across Canada, it is vital that Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Service (AFFES) is adequately staffed to respond quickly to forest fires, he told minister Smith.
MPP Mantha called on the minister to immediately address the wage concerns raised by both the conservation officers and the wildland firefighters.
