US President Donald Trump directly accused Canada on Friday of causing the wildfires that led to smoke spreading across the border into the United States. Trump stated that the US is unjustly suffering polluted and unhealthy air, and accused the Canadian government of deliberately neglecting and inadequately maintaining forests and brush. In response to this situation, he announced he would call Canadian leader Mark Carney to demand an urgent explanation.
If the response is unsatisfactory, Trump threatened economic measures. He announced that air pollution costs would be added to the tariffs Canada currently pays for American goods. Canada has not yet publicly responded to these tariff threats, and the situation is further complicated by the fact that smoke from massive fires has blanketed and polluted cities such as New York and Chicago, creating an orange veil over the metropolises.
Canadian leader Mark Carney responded by asserting that both the US and Canada bear equal responsibility for fighting climate change. Experts behind these events highlight that climate change significantly worsens conditions for the outbreak and spread of fires. According to data from the Canadian Wildfire Information System, on Friday there were approximately 888 active fires burning in Canada, most of which are out of control. Across the country, around 200 fires are out of control, and nearly 3 million hectares of land have already been destroyed.
The severe situation is particularly affecting the province of Ontario, where more than 190 fires are burning, some of which are out of control. Ontario Premier Doug Ford requested that the US send assistance for firefighting. Ford publicly criticised US authorities for sending complaints and accusations instead of providing help, emphasising the need for cooperation in addressing the crisis affecting both countries.
