Saskatchewan has been overspending on its wildfire response due to a lack of robust resource planning and year-over-year tracking, according to provincial auditor Tara Clemett. Her report, tabled on Tuesday, examines the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) during the record-breaking 2025 wildfire season.
Key findings on resource costs
The SPSA spent $26.3 million in 2025 pulling in contracted resources like firefighters and aircraft, compared to $1.9 million in 2024 and $521,000 in 2023. Clemett found it cost the SPSA between two and six times more to bring in contracted firefighters than to use in-agency personnel, and 35 per cent more to use short-term helicopter contracts than long-term ones.
“Without strong planning, the agency risks entering each wildfire season without optimal level of resources, resulting in increased costs and reliance on contracted services,” said Clemett during a news conference.
Budget shortfalls and planning gaps
More than 500 wildfires burned over 2.9 million hectares of northern Saskatchewan in 2025, a record high. The SPSA sought help from other provinces and countries. Clemett found the agency continues to plan for the same number of key personnel each year even though the number and magnitude of fires have grown. It also fails to adjust budgets for increased wildfire trends, causing actual costs to balloon. The SPSA has gone more than $70 million over budget on wildfire responses in each of the last three years, and was $313.2 million over budget in 2025.
Recommendations and related reviews
Two of Clemett’s eight recommendations urge the SPSA to revisit and update its budgeting model and implement better resource-tracking policies. The audit follows a third-party review by MNP Consulting, which found the SPSA was not adequately prepared for 2025 and operated in silos with poor communication. Additionally, Saskatchewan’s ombudsman concluded the SPSA was slow in evacuating 10,000 residents displaced last summer. Clemett’s office is still examining the province’s $187-million procurement contract for additional air tankers, after the first aircraft was grounded during a fire threatening the La Ronge area.
