Le premier ministre du Canada Justin Trudeau a assuré aux habitants de Fort McMurray et de l’Alberta que le pays tout entier est derrière eux.
«Sachez que même si la pente est abrupte et que le désespoir guette, vous n’êtes pas seuls», a-t-il déclaré en conférence de presse à Edmonton, vendredi.
M. Trudeau a admis qu’il est encore difficile d’évaluer le temps que prendra la reconstruction de Fort McMurray, dont la population entière a été évacuée après un violent feu de forêt. Plusieurs d'entre eux ont trouvé refuge dans la capitale albertaine. Le premier ministre a toutefois assuré que le gouvernement fédéral versera «des montants d’argent significatifs».
«Nous ne savons pas encore quelles ressources seront nécessaires, a-t-il affirmé. La réflexion concernant la façon dont on va reconstruire ne fait que commencer.»
Justin Trudeau a profité de son passage à Edmonton pour annoncer qu’Ottawa étend à trois autres régions de l’ouest du pays la prestation d’assurance-emploi allongée.
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![Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes a helicopter tour of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes a helicopter tour of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes a helicopter tour of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes a helicopter tour of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receives a briefing at the Regional Emergency Operation Centre during a visit to view of the devastation caused by the wildfire in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau receives a briefing at the Regional Emergency Operation Centre during a visit to view of the devastation caused by the wildfire in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![An aerial view of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city is seen during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's helicopter tour in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "An aerial view of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city is seen during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's helicopter tour in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![An aerial view of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "An aerial view of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![An aerial view of the burned forest in the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "An aerial view of the burned forest in the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![An aerial view of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city is seen during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's helicopter tour in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "An aerial view of the devastation caused by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city is seen during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's helicopter tour in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![An aerial view of the neighborhoods devastated in the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "An aerial view of the neighborhoods devastated in the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and and Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen visit neighborhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and and Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen visit neighborhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and and Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen visit neighborhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and and Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen visit neighborhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen look over a burnt out car while visiting neighborhoods devastated by the wildfirein Fort McMurray Alberta]( "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen look over a burnt out car while visiting neighborhoods devastated by the wildfirein Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks into a burnt out car while visiting neighborhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks into a burnt out car while visiting neighborhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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![Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley visit neighborhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta]( "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley visit neighborhoods devastated by the wildfire that forced the evacuation of the city in Fort McMurray Alberta")
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Les chômeurs d’Edmonton, du sud de la Saskatchewan et de la Colombie-Britannique pourront bénéficier, dès le mois de juillet, de cinq semaines supplémentaires de prestation d’assurance-emploi, jusqu'à concurrence de 50 semaines. Ces régions sont durement touchées par la chute de la valeur du pétrole.
Plus tôt en journée, vendredi, M. Trudeau a survolé brièvement Fort McMurray pour constater les dégâts causés par le feu de forêt qui a détruit près de 2500 bâtiments.
Le premier ministre ne s’y était pas encore rendu depuis que les feux de forêt ont ravagé une partie de la ville de quelque 80 000 âmes.
M. Trudeau a par la suite foulé le sol carbonisé de certains quartiers de la municipalité, déambulant entre des carcasses de voitures et des objets tachés de suie.
«La force de cette communauté nous a tous touché au travers le pays», a-t-il déclaré devant quelque 150 premiers répondants venus l’entendre.
Le «courage» et «l’héroïsme» des autorités ont réussi à sauver la majeure partie de la ville, a déclaré le premier ministre.
M. Trudeau s’est d’ailleurs dit rassuré – malgré la distance – en constatant sur les images retransmises par les chaînes de télévision que le travail acharné des pompiers portait ses fruits.
Malgré la violence du brasier, environ 90 % des bâtiments de Fort McMurray sont encore debout.
Jusqu’à présent, les dons des Canadiens pour aider les sinistrés s’élèvent à 86 millions $. Ottawa s’est d’ailleurs engagé à doubler les dons faits à la Croix-Rouge canadienne.
