Trudeau visits B.C. to meet with Lytton’s mayor in wake of devastating wildfire

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) —  Lytton Mayor Jan Polderman will speak with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Thursday, about the loss to his community after a wildfire tore through the village just over a week ago.

The prime minister has put the meeting among his top priorities during his B.C. visit, with plans to check in on the recovery efforts, and the plans to help the 1,000 evacuees now left homeless by the fire.

A face-to-face meeting with B.C. Premier John Horgan is also on the agenda, as the PM plans to address the impacts of climate change on Western Canada’s forests. It comes as B.C. is seeing another destructive wildfire season, and experts say more is yet to come with dry forests and no rain on the way.

There are no plans for the prime minister to travel to the village itself, as crews work to make it safe for residents to return.

On Friday, evacuees will be able to take a bus tour of the area, and see firsthand what remains, if anything. The BC SPCA will be allowed access Thursday to search for pets and farm animals left behind.

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Trudeau’s visit also includes a campaign-style stop in the Lower Mainland to make an early learning childcare announcement alongside the premier at Coquitlam City Hall.

The stops further fuel speculation about a possible federal election call, which could see Canadians heading back to the polls.

Trudeau was in Alberta Wednesday, and was asked if that’s in the cards, to which he did not say no.

“I think Canadians should be and can be expecting that their elected leaders work hard for them every single day,” he said.

Read more: Prime Minister sidesteps questions about possible fall election

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh kicked off his own Canada-wide tour on Thursday, beginning in the Vancouver Island riding of Cowichan-Malahat-Langford. He plans to speak on affordability for Canadians, and the housing crisis.

Federal Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has also begun his own unofficial campaign tour. He is set to travel to Calgary to attend the Stampede, and will serve pancakes alongside Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

 

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