MNR pulls 30 seasonal firefighting jobs from Sault

The Ministry of Natural Resources will not recall 30 seasonal firefighting staff who work out of Sault Ste. Marie.

MPP David Orazietti said the local cuts will not affect the capabilities of the MNR to fight fires.

“What I can say is they are expecting to maintain a similar complement in terms of total number of jobs in the organization during next year’s fire season,” said Orazietti.

Those seasonal jobs just won’t be filled in Sault Ste. Marie.

A statement from the office of Natural Resources Minister Bill Mauro reads:

“Thirty seasonal staff are receiving notice that they will not be recalled to their current positions.  Sault Ste. Marie will continue to have 350 full-time staff - more than any other community except Peterborough, where MNRF has its headquarters. These changes will not affect our ability to protect Sault Ste. Marie or surrounding communities. MNRF operates all fire facilities as a network that responds to fires wherever they occur.”

Orazietti clarifies that some of those seasonal positions are filled by applicants from outside of Sault Ste. Marie, though he did not have a breakdown of how many of those jobs will be lost by local applicants.

“I am obviously concerned about every job in our community and we continue to make significant investments in the firefighting capacity across the province and here in Sault Ste. Marie,” he said.

“We have made about $42-million in new investments to upgrade fire bases in the province in strategic locations. We continue to invest more money in the fire fighting capability to protect our natural resources in the last several years than we have in quite some time,” said Orazietti.

Orazietti said the water-bombing base and aviation simulator will continue operation here in the Sault.

“All of that is obviously going to continue to be a significant presence in our community,” said Orazietti.

(FILE PHOTO: David Orazietti seen at the controls of the MNR flight simulator. Donna Hopper/SooToday)