Bindloss fire victims say the compensation process is stalled
By Gillian Slade on September 8, 2018.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com @MHNGillianSlade A year after the Bindloss fire there is frustration for farmers and ranchers who have not received the financial compensation they say they were promised. “A year ago we had hope it (claims) would be settled,” said Tom Herman. John Campbell and wife Donna say they are “so tired” of the lack of progress. On Sept. 11, 2017 a fire spread from Canadian Forces Base Suffield, engulfing 220 square kilometres on the base, plus another 58 square kilometres beyond. By the time the fire was out, more than 160 head of cattle had either died in the blaze or had to be euthanized because they were so badly burned. Suffield acknowledged the fire began after a military operation to dispose of an undetonated explosive. A board of inquiry made 17 recommendations, which were endorsed by CFB Suffield last December. “A claims adjuster has been contracted and will be sent to the affected areas to assess some of the claims,” Natalie Finnemore, public affairs officer for CFB Suffield, said on Dec. 20, 2017. “All agencies involved in the investigation and claims processes are doing their utmost to conclude their work as quickly as possible.” Base commander Lt.-Col. Mike Onieu offered assurance in January that “we are taking every possible measure to expedite the claims process.” CFB Suffield made a lot of promises about fair compensation but they now appear to be out of the loop, said Herman. An adjuster is dealing with those affected but fire victims say they have lost faith in him and the process. Campbell says the adjuster does not appear to understand the impact of the loss of grazing land and the time it will need to recover. The ranchers, meanwhile, are struggling to prevent overgrazing on the land that was not burned. “You feel he is trying to frustrate you,” said Darrel Swenson. “You just want to throw your hands up,” said Jim Hern. Even though it is the federal government handling the claims process, Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes thinks the provincial government has a responsibility to advocate for those affected. He has requested a meeting with the agriculture minister to discuss the issue. An attempt to reach Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner to discuss the matter was unsuccessful. Even though Rick Strankman is the MLA for the Bindloss area, Barnes has personally visited those affected, and rancher Ivan Schlaht says that has meant a lot to fire victims. The federal government’s website has guidelines on the costs associated with farming and ranching but the adjuster says those can’t be used, said Schlaht, who lost 98 head of cattle as a result of the fire. Herman said he believes the adjuster is not listening to the professionals advising him. Those willing to accept an interim payment are asked to sign a release in legal jargon promising to keep all aspects confidential and agree to a clawback in future if considered appropriate, said Schlaht. In May, the Campbells, who lost two sections of land to the fire and the accompanying income, delivered quotes for replacing fencing and corrals to the claims office in Edmonton, together with proof of their lost income. Since then there have only been emails asking for more tax information. There has been a physical and mental health impact on all of them, said Jim Hern. “Nobody’s trying to screw anybody, we are just trying to get fair value,” said Hern. The News was not successful in trying to get comments from CFB Suffield, MLAs Strankman and Wanner, and Bindloss area Member of Parliament Kevin Sorenson. 23
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