The Saskatchewan Party government is facing sharp criticism from opposition parties and evacuees over its handling of the ongoing wildfires in the province's north.Both the Sask NDP and the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party of Saskatchewan, joined by evacuees, have condemned the government's response, citing a delay in declaring a state of emergency and a failure to accept federal assistance."People are fleeing fires with little more than the clothes on their backs and instead of stepping up, Scott Moe and the Sask Party are nowhere to be seen,” said NDP MLA Jordan McPhail.The NDP says the federal government confirmed the military could be on the ground within 24 hours to help with firefighting, evacuations, and other emergency efforts.“When lives and homes are on the line, we shouldn’t be leaving any help on the table,” said McPhail.This sentiment was echoed by those forced from their homes. .Sheri Par,r from Creighton, whose husband is a volunteer firefighter, said she believes the military should have been called in weeks ago.“My husband and the entire fire crew have been sleeping on dirt roads, on concrete floors, and on lawn chairs in the fire hall because they’re all so exhausted,” said Parr. “I don’t understand why we wouldn’t take the offer of more help.”Rhonda Werbicki, who lost her Denare Beach home of 26 years, feels the government has forgotten northern residents. "I’m very disappointed in a government that I voted for and I had faith in," said Werbicki. "I feel like, because we’re the North, we’re ignored.".The PC Party also called for more decisive action.PC Leader Rose Buscholl questioned the government's timing in declaring a provincial state of emergency on May 29, pointing out it came 21 days after the first community was evacuated."For the life of me, I cannot see what the hold up was," said Buscholl in a statement. "There had to be a point in time before a state of emergency was declared that the provincial government had to have known this was already larger than what our resources could handle."Buscholl criticized Premier Scott Moe's recent statement that he had "never seen anything like this before."."Had the government acted sooner, declared a state of emergency earlier, and asked for federal assistance ... we wouldn’t be witnessing this now," said Buscholl."Quit looking at the federal government as the boogeyman under your bed and ask for additional help from the feds."Beyond the call for military aid, evacuees reported significant problems with the government’s Emergency and Community Support program. Many say the financial aid is confusing, restrictive, and slow to arrive..Moira Pinnell Davis, who fled Creighton nearly two weeks ago, said she has yet to receive any financial support. Davis pointed to Manitoba, where she says Manitoba evacuees in Saskatoon have received Manitoba government aid via e-transfer.“People need that money for food, for hotel rooms they paid for days ago,” said Davis.
