Toronto/CMEDIA: U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly says that the cost of pollution from wildfire smoke drifting south of the border must be added to the tariffs imposed on Canadian goods.
“We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” read a post from Trump on Truth Social.
“This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, the cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying.”
Trump is the latest U.S. politician to criticize Canada for its handling of the wildfires. Earlier this week, a handful of Michigan state representatives claimed Canada has not done enough to address the smoke, which has led to deteriorating air conditions in northern U.S. states.
More than 900 wildfires active in Canada
Meanwhile, several Ontario communities have been evacuated as wildfires tear through the region, dealing yet-untold damage.
There were 43 new active wildfires reported on Friday — 15 of those being human-caused, 18 natural and 10 undetermined — bringing the total to 903 across Canada, an increase from the 858 reported Thursday, according to the national wildfire summary.
Of those 903, 122 are burning out of control, 29 are being held and 73 are under control.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said to U.S. officials ‘to send support’ instead of complaining about the wildfire smoke flooding into their states.
When asked Friday about the growing number of American criticisms on wildfire management, Ford responded by alluding to Canada’s contributions to fighting U.S. fires in recent years, including those that ripped through California last year, and assistance during the Georgia hurricane in 2024.
“If there are some politicians out there chirping away, well, maybe what you should do rather than complain is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends, and that’s what you’re supposed to do,” he said.
Just days ago, 56-year-old Canadian pilot Nicholas Dale was killed while fighting a forest fire in Colorado. Dozens of first responders honoured his death during a procession in Grand Junction, Colo.
