While wildfires continue to rage in Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump has pointed the finger at the Canadian government, accusing it of 'deliberate negligence' in forest management, which has led to large amounts of smoke and haze entering the United States. He also threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada. This statement has drawn the angry criticism of Doug Ford, the governor of Ontario, Canada.
According to the US newspaper The Hill, at a press conference in Ontario on July 18 local time, Ford said that Canada is trying to cope with the severe wildfires. "We are working hard to get through this difficult situation," and the remarks made by some Americans about Canada are "shameful."
Ford pointed out that during the wildfires in California, North Carolina, and Georgia last year, Canadian electricians and firefighting aircraft were deployed to assist in extinguishing the fires.
"This is what neighbors should be doing, isn't it?" Ford said. "If roles were reversed, Canadians would 'jump in without hesitation.'"
Trump posted a statement on social media on the 17th, accusing the Canadian government of failing to carry out “basic forestry management”. This has led to heavy smoke from wildfires in Canada covering parts of the Midwest and the East Coast of the United States. He threatened that Canada’s inaction had cost the United States “billions of dollars”, and he would impose additional tariffs on that country.
According to Canadian cross-sector forest fire data, as of 5:30 p.m. local time on the 18th, there were 955 active wildfires in Canada.
According to The Hill, the smoke and haze caused by the wildfires in Canada are currently spreading into the United States, affecting regions such as northern Minnesota. More than 100 million people in the US have received air quality alerts. Experts warn that the tiny particles in the wildfire smoke can enter the human respiratory system, posing a serious threat to health.
