Modern Commons Party Responds to U.S. Letter on Wildfire Smoke: “Try Breathing Through Your Own Entitlement”

PETERBOROUGH, ON – July 10, 2025

The Modern Commons Party is firing back at a recent letter sent by U.S. Congress members to Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, demanding answers from Canada over wildfire smoke drifting into the United States. The Party is calling the letter self-centred, uninformed, and emblematic of the broader failure to take climate change seriously.

Thamer Linklater, Interim President of the Modern Commons Party, is a member of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation with deep ties to wildfire-affected communities in northern Manitoba. Though currently living in Peterborough, they made it clear the U.S. letter missed the mark entirely:

“It’s breathtaking, not the smoke, but the arrogance. These Congressmen are treating wildfire smoke like an inconvenience to their summer plans, while people in my home community are navigating real danger. The air quality might be new for them but for us, this is life under climate crisis.” Linklater continued, “If you’re angry about a few smoky afternoons, try caring about the communities that are burning. This isn’t just Canada’s problem, and it certainly isn’t something you fix by lecturing people already under pressure.”

Party Leader Jack Henry echoed their frustration, calling the U.S. letter a distraction from the real issues at hand:

“The smoke doesn’t respect borders, and neither does the climate emergency. Instead of finger-pointing, we need a cross-border strategy focused on prevention, investment, and climate resilience. This moment should be a wake-up call, not a press stunt.”

Despite the tone of the U.S. letter, the Modern Commons Party expressed deep gratitude to American firefighters currently supporting Canadian crews, as Premier Wab Kinew highlighted earlier this week.

“We’re incredibly thankful for those firefighters,” said Linklater. “They’ve shown up. They’re doing what many of our leaders haven’t, responding with action, not blame.”

The Party continues to call for federal investment in northern and Indigenous-led wildfire response teams, sustainable land stewardship, and climate adaptation strategies that recognize the realities on the ground.

“If our neighbours to the south want to be helpful,” Linklater concluded, “they should be joining us in demanding real action, not just clearer skies for themselves.”