As Canada prepares for another intense wildfire season, Ottawa is moving to significantly expand the country’s aerial firefighting capabilities with a new fleet of aircraft and support assets designed to strengthen surge capacity nationwide.
On May 25 in Ottawa, the federal government announced the availability of 10 new firefighting aircraft and two firefighting support assets through contracts established by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC). The announcement was made by the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, alongside Corey Hogan and Kelsey Winter.
Beginning with the 2026 wildfire season, provincial and territorial wildfire agencies will be able to request access to four aerial firefighting air tankers, one birddog aircraft, five heavy-lift helicopters, and two support assets through CIFFC’s national coordination system.
The new assets are intended to improve Canada’s aerial surge capacity during periods of elevated wildfire activity, helping provinces and territories access critical aviation resources faster when demand spikes across multiple regions simultaneously.
The expansion is backed by a $316.7 million federal investment over five years announced through Budget 2025 to establish a national aerial firefighting surge capability. Through that funding, CIFFC secured leases for the aircraft and support assets via contracts with Conair Group Inc., Coldstream Helicopters, and VIH Helicopters.
The new fleet marks the first nationally managed aerial firefighting assets of this scale in Canada and reflects growing concern over the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfire seasons across the country.
“As wildfire seasons become more severe, we took an engagement last budget to bolster our wildfire aerial capacity and show more leadership on the emergency management side by investing in practical, on-the-ground support to help provinces and territories respond quickly and effectively. These additional aircraft will strengthen Canada’s wildfire response, protect frontline personnel and protect communities across the country,” explained the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada.
The federal government says the initiative is part of a broader effort to improve national preparedness and strengthen coordination between all levels of government, Indigenous communities, and emergency management organizations.
“Our government is, first and foremost, focused on protecting Canadians by strengthening our ability to fight wildfire in 2026 and beyond. By providing provinces and territories with critical firefighting resources, we are helping protect lives, homes, and communities for years to come,” stated the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
The announcement also highlighted the role of Canadian aerospace and aviation expertise in building out the country’s wildfire response infrastructure.
“During my visit with Conair in British Columbia, I saw firsthand the Canadian expertise and specialized aircraft helping strengthen wildfire response. I’m thrilled that Conair’s TBM 960AA will be part of Canada’s expanded aerial firefighting capacity, helping better support provinces and territories, protect communities, and equip the brave women and men on the frontlines,” expressed Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience.
Federal officials emphasized that ensuring rapid access to specialized firefighting resources remains essential as wildfire threats increasingly stretch local and regional capabilities.
“Ensuring provinces and territories have access to the resources they need is critical during wildfire season. These additional assets will help strengthen response efforts across the country and allow those on the frontlines to respond quickly and keep Canadians safe from coast to coast to coast,” said Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
For CIFFC, the expansion represents a long-term shift toward a more coordinated national wildfire aviation strategy built around interoperability and shared response capacity.
“The strength of Canada’s wildfire system has always come from standing together in times of need. Through the Pan-Canadian Aerial Assets Program, we are turning that spirit of cooperation into lasting action; building a more resilient, interoperable, and coordinated wildfire response system Canadians can rely on for years to come. We are proud to work alongside Conair Group Inc., Coldstream Helicopters, and VIH Helicopters in advancing this shared commitment,” remarked Kelsey Winter, Executive Director of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
