In the wake of sharp criticism from Saskatchewan’s Ombudsman about delays and deficiencies in the government’s wildfire evacuation response, Premier Scott Moe announced new supports for displaced residents on Wednesday, while acknowledging the province must do more to help affected families.
Speaking alongside Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Tim McLeod and Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill, Moe announced a $500 emergency assistance payment for every adult evacuee from wildfire-affected communities, to be distributed in partnership with municipal and First Nations leadership.
“We know there continues to be more work for us to do,” Moe said. “We’re focused on ensuring that individuals, families and communities have the support they require to recover from what has been a tremendously fast-moving and challenging time.”
The announcement comes 14 days after a provincial state of emergency was declared, as 24 wildfires continue to burn across the province, forcing evacuations in 18 communities, including La Ronge, Air Ronge, Denare Beach, Pelican Narrows, and Creighton. As of this week, over 10,000 residents remain displaced, some having been away from their homes for nearly two weeks.
Tuesday, Ombudsman Sharon Pratchler raised serious concerns about the province’s handling of the evacuations, citing reports of people sleeping in vehicles, going hungry, and struggling to access basic services. Her office received pages of names from local leaders and evacuees who said they were unable to get timely assistance from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), and she announced a systemic investigation into the province’s response.
Pratchler called for 24/7 emergency response lines, trauma-informed communication, centralized evacuee tracking, medical access, and more transparent coordination with municipal and Indigenous leadership.
Premier Moe acknowledged that the province had encountered bottlenecks in its response, particularly after the evacuation of the La Ronge area more than doubled the number of evacuees.
“We ran into some bottlenecks with the 1-855 number,” Moe said. “That’s something that needs to be corrected. We've added additional government staff from across ministries to clear backlogs, and supports should now be available in hours, not days.”
The $500 payment, retroactive to the date of evacuation, will be administered through local leadership. It is designed to help evacuees cover the costs of displacement and returning home.
“We trust local leadership to know best who and how,” Moe added. “It may look different in each community, but we want these supports in place immediately.”
McLeod confirmed that additional SPSA staff had been deployed to address case backlogs and that mental and physical health supports had been expanded at evacuation sites. Cockrill noted that SHA teams had been deployed to all known hotels and shelters housing evacuees, and La Ronge’s health services are preparing to reopen this week.
Premier Moe also emphasized the importance of long-term recovery, including infrastructure repairs, housing support, and expanded access to mental health care. He confirmed that Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) funding would be available for individuals, businesses, and communities facing loss of homes, cabins, and public infrastructure.
While defending the province’s efforts, pointing to over 50 aircraft and more than 1,000 firefighters, including 400 trained Indigenous and northern personnel, Moe conceded that systemic improvements are needed.
“We’re going to have to look at both our wildfire mitigation investments and how we support evacuees,” he said. “There’s going to be a time very shortly where we will need to review and improve.”
He credited Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte and the Prince Albert Grand Council for developing a Type 2 and Type 3 firefighter training program, which has allowed many communities to defend themselves without waiting for military aid. While Moe declined to request military firefighters, he confirmed that Saskatchewan has requested federal help to build base camps for rebuilding efforts.
Premier Moe also addressed reports of scam attempts targeting evacuees.
“To those doing this, taking advantage of vulnerable people in crisis, hell hath no place hot enough for them,” Moe said. He urged evacuees to report suspected scams to police immediately.
Despite the ongoing crisis, officials struck a cautiously optimistic tone. With recent rainfall reducing fire intensity and communities such as La Ronge preparing for a return home, the ministers emphasized that support systems were beginning to catch up.
“We’re not at the end,” said Cockrill. “The trauma doesn’t end when the fires do. But we are moving into recovery, and we will continue working with our northern communities to ensure no one is left behind.”