A brand-new water bomber sat unused and idle at the La Ronge airport as wildfires raged nearby, destroying homes and businesses, according to Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP.

NDP public safety critic Nicole Sarauer said the province took delivery of the multi-million dollar Conair Dash 8-Q400AT airtanker on May 30, according to flight records.

“Since landing, the aircraft hasn’t logged a single flight. It’s been sitting there unused,” Sarauer said.

Sarauer said the plane sat idle and unused, with Premier Scott Moe seemingly unaware it had even arrived.

She pointed to June 6, a week after the plane arrived, when Moe said during a daily Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) briefing that the plane was on its way and would be put to use as soon as it arrived and was ready.

“It appears that Premier Scott Moe and the Sask Party government either weren’t straight about the bomber or were completely asleep at the wheel during a crisis,” Sarauer said.

Sask. government defends grounded water bomber as criticism mounts over wildfire response | CBC News

A brand-new water bomber sat unused and idle at the La Ronge airport as wildfires raged nearby, destroying homes and businesses, according to Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP.

CBC (www.cbc.ca)