The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, and the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, provided an update on the 2026 wildfire season on August 18, 2026. The announcement followed a technical briefing hosted by Government of Canada officials to outline the seasonal outlook. As of today, there are 582 active wildfires nationally, including 31 that are out of control with full response. In total this season, there have been 4,793 fires and 4.1 million hectares burned.

Last year, at this time, Canada saw fewer fires (4,584 by mid-August) but a more significant number of hectares burned (7.7 million). The 2026 wildfire season has been shaped by prolonged periods of heat, low humidity and dry conditions in several parts of the country. Current 2026 wildfire activity remains below the five-year average, but fire danger will continue to be high over the remainder of the summer and early fall.

Regional Impact and Federal Response

In mid-July, underlying conditions led to a series of intense wildfires in Northwestern Ontario that caused significant damage and precipitated the evacuation of a number of communities, including numerous First Nations. On July 15, the federal government received a precautionary Request for Federal Assistance (RFA) from Ontario which resulted in the evacuation of Eabametoong First Nation (Fort Hope) by the Canadian Armed Forces starting on July 18.

Southern British Columbia also experienced persistent heat and below-normal precipitation in July and August, contributing to intense wildfire activity in the Fraser Canyon and Okanagan Valley. On August 8, in the days after the evacuation of the region surrounding Summerland and Peachland, a Request for Federal Assistance from British Columbia was approved to provide shelter and accommodations for people displaced by the wildfires. Given the ongoing wildfire activity, with more than 10,000 people remaining under evacuation orders, the federal government continues to work closely with British Columbia to support the provincially-led wildfire response.

Over 500 international firefighters from Mexico, Costa Rica, New Zealand and Australia have provided assistance to Ontario and British Columbia over the course of the summer. This international support has complemented the efforts of Canadian firefighters and emergency responders working to protect communities and critical infrastructure.

Forecast and Outlook

Looking ahead, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather forecast points to above-average temperatures across much of Canada from August through September. These conditions, combined with ongoing drought and dryness in some regions may mean that elevated wildfire risk persists in the weeks ahead.

For the remainder of August, modelling by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) indicates that fires in southern British Columbia are expected to remain active, but forecasted precipitation could help reduce activity. Localized areas of higher-than-normal fire danger are expected to persist for northern British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, northwestern Quebec, and Nunavut.

In September, wildland fire danger is expected to be higher than normal across most of Canada, except in Alberta and Saskatchewan. In northern areas, however, fire danger is usually low at this time of year. This means that while conditions may be above normal, large fires and significant fire growth are not necessarily expected.

Support for First Nations

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is working closely with First Nations communities, provinces, territories, and other partners to support wildfire response and recovery. Through its Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP) ISC will reimburse 100 percent of eligible response costs for First Nations affected by wildfires. This includes evacuation transportation and accommodations, food, security, and mental health and wellness supports. Funding can also support measures that help communities safely shelter in place, where appropriate, to get people through these challenging circumstances. ISC also continues to place greater emphasis on providing practical resources such as air purifiers, air scrubbers, and generators supported by EMAP. This helps communities manage smoke and poor air quality and may reduce the need for broader evacuations.

Event Details

The events took place on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Participation was limited to accredited members of the Press Gallery. Media who are not members may contact pressres2@parl.gc.ca to request temporary access.

Simultaneous translation and audio feed were available for media on-site. Public Safety Canada invites the public to follow updates on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The Canadian federal government, in collaboration with the provincial governments of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, has finalized a joint agreement to upgrade the Churchill Falls Generating Station and develop the Gull Island project along with related transmission infrastructure.

This agreement, announced on August 18, 2026, marks what New Economy Canada describes as North America's largest clean energy investment. The project is backed by $10 billion in federal financing and aligns with Canada's national electricity strategy, Powering Canada Strong.

Strategic Infrastructure Goals

The core objective of this cooperative federalism approach is to enhance inter-provincial grid connections. By linking provincial grids more effectively, the initiative aims to:

• Reduce electricity costs for consumers and industries.
• Strengthen grid reliability and resilience against extreme weather events.
• Lower emissions through better utilization of low-cost renewable energy sources.

New Economy Canada, an alliance representing over 750,000 workers and generating more than $200 billion in annual revenue, welcomed the move. The group emphasized that affordable, reliable clean power is foundational for economic growth and industrial competitiveness.

Critical Minerals and Industrial Linkages

A significant component of this announcement is the referral of the Labrador Trough Clean Power, Critical Minerals and Infrastructure Corridor to the Major Projects Office. This linkage explicitly connects electricity expansion with the mining sector.

Merran Smith, President of New Economy Canada, highlighted the strategic importance of this integration. She noted that expanding clean electricity supply is essential to support mining operations that produce inputs for batteries. These batteries are increasingly critical for supporting both power grids and electric vehicles.

What the Numbers Show

The scale of the financial commitment underscores the priority placed on energy infrastructure. With $10 billion in federal financing secured, the project represents a substantial capital injection into the clean energy sector. This funding structure suggests a long-term horizon for development, given the complexity of upgrading existing hydroelectric assets like Churchill Falls while simultaneously developing new sites like Gull Island.

Next Steps and Community Engagement

While the governmental agreement is finalized, New Economy Canada stressed the need for continued engagement with Indigenous communities. Specifically, the group called for active involvement with the Innu people to secure their support and ensure they share in the economic benefits of the project.

The alliance argued that such cooperation is vital for maintaining social license and ensuring the successful execution of these large-scale infrastructure developments. As industries, transportation, and buildings continue to electrify, the demand for electricity supply is expected to grow significantly, necessitating faster and smarter construction of clean power resources.