As wildfires continue to rip through Canada, the premier of Ontario acknowledged that humans are to blame.
Canadian wildfires continue to be front page news, as pollution from the blazes spreads to the United States, causing poor air quality as far south as North Carolina.
While many were quick to blame climate change for the fires, the premier of Ontario has put the blame on humans, specifically campers.
Doug Ford has stated that he believes as many as half of the wildfires in the Canadian province of Ontario were started by humans:
“I have heard approximately 50 per cent of the fires are started by lightning strikes, the other 50 per cent are people starting campfire and not putting out the campfires properly.
I’m asking every Ontarian please do not light any campfires.”
Ford also pointed out how wildfires are a yearly occurrence, similar to floods.
The premier’s comments come as police agencies across the country hunt down arsonists that have been starting fires intentionally.
Recently, a Calgary man was arrested and charged with arson after confessing to starting a “brush fire” in the Calgary neighbourhood of Inglewood.
RCMP in northern Alberta have laid multiple charges in relation to arsons. Several suspects are still at large, and the police continue to track the criminals down.
Similarly, RCMP in eastern Canada are hunting down arsonists after three fires were intentionally set in Pictou County, north of Halifax.
There is insufficient evidence to suggest that a majority of Canadian wildfires were “coordinated arson,” as some have suggested on social media. Fact-checkers were quick to shoot down these claims in various articles.
There is also insufficient evidence to lay the blame on Antifa, climate change activists, or other left-wing extremists for the arsons that have occurred.
The reality is, the motivation behind the various arsons is still unknown. It is unclear whether the arsonists are motivated by political ideologies at this time.
