Northern premiers call for national emergency response system

The Canadian Press  Northern premiers are calling for a national emergency response system to deal with natural disasters they fear will become more frequent. After a meeting this week in Pond Inlet, Nvt., they say the wildfires and floods of recent years point to the need for federal co-ordination. Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson says Canada is one of the few G7 countries without such an agency. Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai says municipal and First Nations leaders are already talking about how they can work together when wildfires or floods threaten their communities. Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok said even his territory experienced wildfires. The N.W.T. has brought in more firefighters earlier this year and in more locations. “It’s time we started looking into (a co-ordinated system),” said Simpson, who was…

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