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Barnes continues to call for government assistance for county residents

Nov 15, 2017 | 10:52 AM

EDMONTON — Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes is still searching for help for the people affected by the grass fires one month ago in Cypress County..

On Nov. 2, Barnes rose in the legislature to ask Agriculture and Forestry minister Oneil Carlier what the government will do to assist residents in the areas of Hilda, Schuler and Bindloss impacted by the grass fires in September and October.

“For over 100 years rural Albertans have borne the responsibility of feeding the province and the entire world,” Barnes said in the transcript of Question Period. “The community is strong, and – make no mistake – we will recover better and stronger than before. To the minister: what are you doing to ensure that the communities and individuals affected by the wildfire are supported and restored?”

“Without a doubt, the wildfires that swept through the grasslands and the southeast corner of the province have been devastating,” said Carlier in his response. “We fully support those communities and the ranchers and producers there that have lost cattle, have lost crops, have lost fence lines.

“We’re having an opportunity now to look at existing programs to see where we can perhaps expedite the process to be able to give the support to those producers as soon as we can.”

Speaking over the phone from Edmonton on Wednesday, Barnes says helping the people in his riding remains an issue.

“From home losses, to grass losses to livestock losses, there needs to be something addressed here,” he said.

Barnes has been in attendance at events in the region in the wake of the fire, most recently at a dinner in Hilda. He says he has been impressed by the response from the community members at trying to piece things together and support each other.

“It’s life-changing when years and years of husbandry and your livestock (are lost), never mind your home, your grass and your neighbours (are lost),” he said.

Barnes also credits Cypress County with their help with clean up for families immediately following the fire.

Barnes says during a meeting of the Standing Committee of Public Accounts on Tuesday, he again brought up the fires, and says he is committed to ensuring the region receives support.

“We’ve seen how strong (nature can be) and the effects that nature can have,” he said. “The people of southeastern Alberta have been great stewards and great Albertans for hundreds of years, and I just hope we will not be forgotten.”