As fires threaten Kelowna, BC and Yellowknife, NWT the latter forcing the evacuation of 20,000, Canadians continue to experience a summer of smoke. And while seven-in-10 Canadians say this fire season has been terrible or worse than average in their province, the future looks more ominous and has some considering a move to avoid subsequent smoky summers.
A new study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds more than half of Canadians (55%) expecting even worse fire conditions in the future, while one-quarter (26%) say this year (a record-breaking year for fires itself) will be the new normal. Few have any hope for calmer summers to come.
For those affected by wildfires or smoke in the past five years, one-in-eight (13%) say they would consider relocating to a place that feels safer. Young adults say this is on their mind at higher rates (24%) than others as they consider where to set down roots and build their lives. Climate migration in Canada may be a new concept, but this research suggests it is on the minds of many.
Overall, Canadians are close to twice as likely to say that climate change is directly contributing to worsening fire seasons than not. Three-in-five (59%) hold this view, while one-in-three (33%) disagree.
One-in-five (19%) in B.C. and one-in-six (16%) in Alberta who have been affected by smoke or fire in recent years say they are considering moving elsewhere to be less affected by wildfire seasons to come.
The wildfires have directly threatened many regions of the country while the resulting smoke has had widespread impacts. One-in-five (20%) who have been touched by smoke this fire season say their health problems have worsened because of the poor air quality.
Overall, nine-in-10 Canadians (89%) say that climate change is happening and not up for debate. That said, this group is partially divided into those who feel it is human caused (67%) or a natural cycle (22%).
While the machinations of daily life and how to cope with these environmental challenges hum along, existential questions ride alongside them for many Canadians. Three-in-five Canadians (63%) say that climate change represents a “crisis” that society must address urgently to overcome. One-in-10 (10%) believe the opportunity to act has already passed. Another group of one-in-nine Canadians (11%) – including one-quarter of past Conservative voters (24%) – say that nothing needs to be done and the situation is fine as it is.
