Make forest fire arsonists pay for their crimes

Whereas according to Health Canada, an average of 55% of wildfires in Canada are caused by human activity;

Whereas forest fires caused by arson divert limited firefighting personnel and equipment allowing naturally caused fires to escalate;

Whereas because of the damage wildfires cause to our environment, we must ensure we minimize the amount of mitigatable fires from burning in Canada;

Whereas wildfires decrease air quality for surrounding regions, and extended exposure poses serious health risks to humans, leading to eye and skin irritation and infection, and respiratory and cardiovascular issues like increased risk of a heart attack;

Whereas there are currently no laws in the Criminal Code specifically banning people from burning forests;

Whereas Canada needs stronger laws regarding arson leading to forest fires;

And whereas arsonists who wantonly seek to destroy our forests should face the full force of the law.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on the Liberal government to protect Canada’s forests and environment by supporting the common sense Conservative Anti-Arson Act to increase the maximum terms of imprisonment for arson-related offences and to modernize the language of the Criminal Code to ensure that the sentencing for setting forest fires is more targeted.