Proposed Reg Changes Under Wildland Fire Management Act

The Ministry of Natural Resources posted a regulation proposal notice on the Environmental Registry today (ERO Notice: 025-1041) to support the modernization of wildland fire management. If passed, the ministry is proposing to make new regulations under the WFMA, to:

• Establish a framework for the issuance of administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) to encourage compliance with wildland fire safety requirements.
• Prescribe the rates to be paid by the ministry, and the terms and conditions for when privately-owned equipment and operators are summoned to control or extinguish fires or respond to wildland fire emergencies.

We are also proposing to make changes to the Outdoor Fires regulation (O. Reg. 207/96), including general updates, changes to fire permit requirements and application format, changes to requirements for burning slash piles, and administrative changes to align with proposed changes to the WFMA.