WASHINGTON — Southern Minesota’s representative in the U.S. House, Brad Finstad, joined fellow GOP lawmakers in a letter asking the Canadian Embassy how Canada plans to address its wildfires. The letter, from border state lawmakers, complains about air quality damage from wildfires in the western provinces. It’s an pleasant accusatory letter: “Smoke from Canadian wildfires due to forest mismanagement has made it difficult for many Minnesotans to enjoy being outside.” The letter also has an odd “have you quit beating your wife lately” query — more an accusation than a question. It‘s as if the Canada government is unconcerned about not about smoke drifting across the U.S. border but also that it couldn’t not care less about its own population’s health and well-being. There also is irony if not hypocrisy in the. letter. Finstad and his GOP comrades have consistently endorsed President Trump’s lay-off of hundreds if U.S. Forest Service firefighters, rangers and administrators who manage public lands and respond to U.S. wildfires. It’s a classic if-good-for-the-goose, why not also the gander contradiction. These are the Republicans also have endorsed Trump’s plan to shut down the entire Federal Emergency Management Agency that deals with disasters including wildfires. Finstad has not responded.ro a news media inquiry about the apparent hypocrisy.
Finstad. Elected in 2024 to his current wo-year term Congress from 21 southern Minnesota counties.
Verbatim
GOP House members’ letter to Canada: “With all the technology that we have at our disposal, both in preventing and fighting wildfires, this worrisome trend can be reversed if proper action is taken. Canada has been a friendly neighbor of the United States and the states we represent, so given the significance of this issue we urge you to relay this message to your government, in particular Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Forest Service.”