Wisconsin and Minnesota Republicans call on Canada to curb wildfire smoke

By Canadian Press on July 9, 2025.

WASHINGTON — Six Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to Canada’s ambassador calling for action on wildfires they say have sent smoke billowing across the international border into their states.

In a Tuesday letter to Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman, Reps. Tom Tiffany, Brad Finstad, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Glenn Grothman and Pete Stauber from Wisconsin and Minnesota say their constituents are coping with suffocating smoke from Canadian wildfires.

The lawmakers say successive years of wildfires in Canada have undermined air quality in their states and robbed Americans of their ability to enjoy the summer.

They pointed to forest management and arson as possible factors behind the fires, but did not mention climate change.

The lawmakers urged Hillman to relay their concerns to Ottawa, in particular to Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Forest Service.

The lawmakers said that with current technology, this “worrisome trend” can be reversed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press

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