The proposal was made late last week by Vladimir Puchkov, the Russian minister of emergency measures.
A spokesman for Russia's embassy in Ottawa, Kirill Kalinin, said Sunday that they continue to stand "ready to help our Canadian partners to fight the ongoing wildfires in Alberta."
The offer involves sending converted Ilyushin Il-76 transport planes — the kind occasionally leased by the Canadian military — that can dump as much as "42 tons of fire retardant into fire spots," according to a statement on the web site of Russia's Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters.
In addition, Moscow said it has "rescuers and specialists with necessary equipment" ready to help on the ground, if need be.
There has been a diplomatic chill between Canada and Russia since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in the spring of 2014, but since the election the Liberal government has said it wanted a constructive relationship with President Vladimir Putin's government.
Speaking on CTV's Question Period on Sunday, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the fire, which is expected to cover up to 3,000 square kilometres by the end of the day, continues to grow. But he made no mention of the Russian overture — or any other potential pitch of international assistance.
"It's big. It's out of control and the end is not in sight," Goodale told the news program.
The Department of Global Affairs was asked about the Kremlin's offer and whether other countries had extended similar proposals, but no one was immediately available to comment.
Canadian officials did tell Russian media that the proposal was being studied.
In addition, Moscow said it has "rescuers and specialists with necessary equipment" ready to help on the ground, if need be.
There has been a diplomatic chill between Canada and Russia since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in the spring of 2014, but since the election the Liberal government has said it wanted a constructive relationship with President Vladimir Putin's government.
Speaking on CTV's Question Period on Sunday, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said the fire, which is expected to cover up to 3,000 square kilometres by the end of the day, continues to grow. But he made no mention of the Russian overture — or any other potential pitch of international assistance.
"It's big. It's out of control and the end is not in sight," Goodale told the news program.
The Department of Global Affairs was asked about the Kremlin's offer and whether other countries had extended similar proposals, but no one was immediately available to comment.
Canadian officials did tell Russian media that the proposal was being studied.
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Meantime, Canada's International Development Agency (CIDA) is one of the top funders of the Kiev-based, anti-Putin Hromadske.TV network.
And former Canadian Liberal Party leader and Harvard University Professor Michael Ignatieff is headed for Hungary to run a Soros-funded "international" (i.e., globalist) graduate university.
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