Whereas escalating wildfires and climate change are increasing in intensity and cost across British Columbia and Canada threatening the unceded territories of many First Nations and impairing the ability of Indigenous peoples across Canada to exercise their rights protected under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, including rights related to land, culture, and traditional practices and resulting in mounting economic costs and greater risk to life and critical infrastructure, demanding bold and timely action; And whereas larger fires emit greenhouse gases and black carbon smoke that intensify warning and harm air quality and converting Canadas retired CC-130H Hercules fleet into modern air tankers would protect communities, critical infrastructure, and help reduce catastrophic carbon emissions from wildfires: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia collaborate with the Government of Canada to: 1. Partner with First Nations and the private sector to retrofit a portion of Canadas retired CC-130H Hercules fleet into large air tankers for wildfire suppression. 2. Deploy these aircraft as part of a strengthened national wildfire response capacity, to be shared with provinces and territories and, where appropriate, used for international humanitarian and emergency missions. Consider that the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre assist in managing deployment under a transparent cost-sharing framework, with initial operating capability by the 2027 wildfire season. 3. Prioritize this made-in-Canada solution that leverages Canadian engineering, protects lives and communities, upholds Indigenous rights, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
