Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Canada Turns Down Russia's Offer To Help In Fighting Alberta's Massive Forest Fires

A Russian-made Beriev Be-200ChS amphibious aircraft, owned by the Siberian Regional Centre of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, dumps some 12 tons of coloured water matching the Russian state flag during a demonstration flight at an air show dedicated to the Day of the Russian Air Fleet at the Yemelyanovo airport outside Krasnoyarsk August 18, 2012. Photo Credit: Ilya Naymushin / Reuters

Radio Canada International: Canada declines Russian offer of water bombers, firemen to help fight Alberta fire

As an “out-of-control” wildfire continues to grow around the oil town of Fort McMurray in the western Canadian province of Alberta, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined on Monday an offer by Russia to dispatch massive water bombers and fire fighting specialists to battle the blaze.

Trudeau thanked Russia for the offer but said there was no need for it.

“One of the things that has been touching over the past days is not just how Canadians have been stepping up from across the country to support their friends in Fort McMurray but how the international community has been affected and responding to this tragedy, to this ongoing challenge,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Canada also turned down U.S. and Mexican offers of assistance .... Trudeau turns down Russian, U.S., Mexican offers to help fight Fort Mac wildfire (CTV News). But crisis are usually an opportunity for international relations to be cemented and/or to be restarted .... even if the assistance is just a token gesture of help .... which is probably why I now I feel that this is a lost opportunity.

Hat Tip to Jason for this story.

Update: Before & After: Satellite images show wildfire devastation wreaked on Fort McMurray (PHOTOS) (RT).

2 comments:

Alex said...

Sounds like a liberal trying a little too hard to show strength. Hope it doesn't burn up in his face :P

RRH said...

Just goes to show Canadians don't have enemies except the ones the leaders make for us.