Trump urges Canada to curb wildfires as smoke drifts into US
During the World Cup final, President Donald Trump pressed Prime Minister Mark Carney to address Canadian wildfires whose smoke has affected air quality in the United States, while Canada mobilised thousands of firefighters.
President Donald Trump told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Cup final on Sunday that the United States is experiencing air quality problems from smoke generated by more than 900 wildfires across Canada. He suggested that Canada could receive assistance but might also need to compensate for damages.
The fires have forced thousands of evacuations, destroyed homes and burned roughly 28,000 square kilometres of land, according to officials. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the United States should offer support rather than threaten trade measures.
Trump previously warned of possible new tariffs on Canada to cover what he described as the "incalculable" cost of the smoke’s impact on the United States. He posted the threat on social media on Friday as dense smoke covered Washington, D.C., and New York City.
In Ontario, about 1,800 residents have been evacuated, and the Whitewater Lake First Nation reported the loss of seasonal camps, infrastructure and wildlife. Chief Pauline Drake expressed concern for the local ecosystem.
Premier Ford visited Thunder Bay and pledged to allocate resources to protect residents. In British Columbia, the city of Kimberley was placed under an evacuation alert affecting roughly 9,000 people.
Canada’s emergency response includes more than 5,000 firefighters and nearly 300 water-bombers, helicopters and evacuation aircraft deployed to contain and mitigate the blazes.