Special Investigations – SIR/54
December 2022

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The Ministry of Forests fairly and consistently value merchantable and non-merchantable timber damaged or destroyed by wildfire.
2. Government provide decision-makers with the discretion to order a liable person to pay none, some, or all of the government’s fire control costs and damage to government resources and property.
3. Government amend the Wildfire Act to make the statutory defences to a contravention described in section 29 of the Wildfire Act available to persons who are subject to allegations made under section 25 of the Wildfire Act for causing or contributing to the start or spread of wildfire.
4. Government amend the Wildfire Regulation to make fire hazard abatement a circumstance for not seeking cost recovery.

Response to Recommendations