Retrofit CC-130H airtankers
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to partner with the private sector and First Nations to retrofit part of the retired CC-130H Hercules fleet into large airtankers for national wildfire response, operational by 2027. The government responds it is leasing firefighting aircraft via the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre and cites cost, training and certification.
Why we would sign this petition
- Increases national aerial capacity and availability so provinces need not shoulder sole costs during peak seasons, improving rapid response to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure.
- Uses retired Canadian aircraft and domestic engineering, supporting local aerospace jobs and a made‑in‑Canada firefighting capability rather than relying solely on foreign assets.
- A national fleet could slow fire spread and reduce wildfire emissions and long‑term economic losses by enabling faster, coordinated suppression with a 2027 operational target.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Conversion involves significant cost, training, certification and operational challenges; the government has highlighted these practical barriers that could delay or complicate the project.
- Wildfire aviation is mainly a provincial and territorial responsibility; provinces already lease or contract aircraft and national leasing/CIFFC coordination may be a viable alternative.
- Retrofitting and fielding by 2027 may be optimistic; leasing existing waterbombers or contracting private conversions could deliver capacity sooner and with less risk.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Wildfires Canada-wide have increasing intensity and cost, demanding bold, timely action; Escalating wildfires and climate change reinforce each other— fires emit greenhouse gases and black-carbon smoke that intensify warming and harm air quality—resulting in increased economic costs, risk to life and critical infrastructure; Without a national airtanker fleet, provinces shoulder the cost of aviation resources, with no guarantee of availability when needed; Combating wildfires and climate crisis requires a wartime level of effort; Other countries retrofit retired military aircraft for aerial firefighting, providing rapid-response capability and national resilience; Converting Canada’s retired CC-130H Hercules fleet into modern airtankers would protect communities, infrastructure, and reduce catastrophic carbon emissions from wildfires; This represents a rare opportunity to strengthen Canada’s firefighting capacity, creating high-skilled jobs at home; and Port Alberni-based Coulson Aviation, has converted CC-130 aircraft into large airtankers, operating with governments in Australia, the US, and beyond. We, the undersigned, Citizens of British Columbia Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to 1. Partner with the private sector in collaboration with potential First Nations partners to retrofit a portion of Canada’s retired CC-130H Hercules fleet into large airtankers for wildfire suppression. 2. Deploy these aircraft under a national wildfire response, shared with provinces and territories and, where appropriate, international humanitarian and emergency missions; consider the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre for managing deployment under a transparent cost-sharing framework, with initial operating capability by the 2027 wildfire season. 3. Prioritize this made-in-Canada solution, leveraging Canadian engineering, protecting lives, communities, and environment.
Government response
Response by the Minister of National Defence Signed by Sherry Romanado National Defence remains committed to supporting a whole-of-government approach to emergency management and the Canadian Armed Forces stands ready to support civil authorities when called upon.? Through Operation LENTUS, the Canadian Armed Forces supports provincial and territorial authorities in responding to major natural disasters, which can include the provision of personnel, equipment, and facilities. The CC-130 Hercules aircraft currently performs vital search-and-rescue operations and is an essential component of Canada’s air capabilities. Conversion of this aircraft for other purposes would encompass a broad range of considerations including, cost, training, and civil certification. Moreover, the acquisition and operation of dedicated firefighting aircraft fall primarily under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, supported as needed by federal agencies through established mechanisms. Public Safety Canada is the lead federal department for emergency management, and the Canadian Armed Forces remains a force of last resort for responding to emergency situations in Canada.? Response by the Minister of Public Safety Signed by ANTHONY HOUSEFATHER, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY The government would like to thank the petitioners for raising this important issue. The Government of Canada is aware of the increasing severity of wildfires and the risk they pose to Canadians. Protecting our communities from these devastating wildfires requires bold approaches and committed, coordinated action from all levels of government. Budget 2025 is investing $316.7 million over four years to Natural Resources Canada to lease firefighting aircraft, which could include waterbombers or other aircraft, that will bolster provincial and territorial aerial firefighting capacity. This investment will be directed to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, strong national coordination of the federal, provincial, and territorial response to wildfires has kept people safe throughout many fire seasons. Aerial firefighting plays an important role in wildfire response by protecting lives and property, delivering water or fire retardant drops in hard-to-reach areas, slowing fire spread, and supporting ground crews with surveillance. The lease of firefighting aircraft will help to ensure that Canadian wildland fire agencies have access to essential aerial firefighting resources, enhancing support to provinces and territories and Canadians in times of need. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre recently published a Negotiated Request for Proposals, which represents a significant milestone in the process to ensure that aircraft are available for use in the 2026 wildfire season. Beginning in 2022-23, the Government of Canada also announced the Fighting and Managing Wildfire in a Changing Climate program, which provides $256 million over a period of five years to strengthen wildfire response capabilities across the country through the purchase of firefighting equipment. The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting our provincial, territorial, Indigenous, and, when possible, international partners through firefighting resource and information sharing. This is made possible through the government’s continued contributions to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The Government of Canada will continue to support both our domestic and international partners in combating wildfires. The Government of Canada will continue to explore ways to combat the growing wildfire risk and improve the Canadian economy. The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting Canadian communities from the risks and harms associated with wildfire and collaborating with all sectors of Canadian society and its international partners in achieving this goal. To this end, a public consultation to collect input from Canadians and emergency management partners on priorities, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen Canada’s emergency management system launched in November 2025, and has been extended until March 27, 2026 due to the significant interest and large volume of submissions. Input received through this consultation will directly inform future proposals to strengthen Canada’s emergency management system and guide the development of next-generation federal investments. The Government of Canada is committed to building long-term wildfire resilience across the country. Response by the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature Signed by The Honourable Julie Dabrusin The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for expressing their views about wildfire and the importance of managing wildfires in Canada and is aware of the increasing severity of wildfires and the risk they pose to Canadians. Protecting our communities from these devastating wildfires requires bold approaches and committed, coordinated action from all levels of government. Parks Canada works with other Government of Canada departments and levels of government on wildfire preparedness and response including Public Safety Canada, Natural Resources Canada, provincial and territorial emergency response agencies, municipal and regional governments, Indigenous governments and communities, and international partners. Through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, strong national coordination of the federal, provincial, and territorial response to wildfires has kept people safe throughout many fire seasons. Parks Canada is committed to reducing the risk of wildfires to communities, visitors, infrastructure, and natural and cultural resources on the lands it manages. Parks Canada manages wildfires in national parks from coast to coast to coast. Resource sharing agreements with provinces and territories enable national air support coverage to priority wildfires. Parks Canada is a member of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre and exchanges personnel and equipment with provincial and territorial fire management agencies when needed. Budget 2021 provided Parks Canada with $52.5 million over five years to support wildfire preparedness, response, prevention and mitigation. Parks Canada does not own any rotary or fixed-wing aircraft. All aircraft used to manage wildfires, including helicopters and air tankers, are obtained either through resource-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial wildfire agencies or through contracts. Parks Canada maintains long-term helicopter contracts to ensure availability of rotary-wing aircraft and enhance the ability to respond to incidents. Aerial firefighting plays an important role in wildfire response by protecting lives and property, delivering water or fire-retardant drops in hard-to-reach areas, slowing fire spread, and supporting ground crews with surveillance. Budget 2025 is investing $257.6 million over four years to Natural Resources Canada to lease firefighting aircraft, which could include waterbombers or other aircraft, that will bolster provincial and territorial aerial firefighting capacity. The Government of Canada will continue to explore ways to combat the growing wildfire risk and improve the Canadian economy while remaining committed to protecting Canadian communities from the risks and harms associated with wildfire.