Cities across B.C. chose not to stand behind Port Alberni and the city香蕉视频直播檚 beloved Martin Mars at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention on Thursday.

Coun. Chris Alemany brought a motion asking delegates to support urging the province to enter in a 10-year contract with the Coulson Group and 香蕉视频直播渆nsure [the] Coulson Group upgrade the aircraft to meet operational requirements.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e thought the fires couldn香蕉视频直播檛 get any worse香蕉视频直播� they did. Along came 2015, 2017 with unprecedented fire activity and impact on our province and communities,香蕉视频直播� said Alemany.

The resolution has been brought to the UBCM twice before but Alemany said that this year香蕉视频直播檚 was different, citing the section that required the province and Coulson to work together on keeping the plane香蕉视频直播檚 technology up-to-date.

Alemany said that with a new NDP government in Victoria, it was time to try again to ask for the Mars, 香蕉视频直播渘ot because it香蕉视频直播檚 better but because it is one more tool in the toolbox.香蕉视频直播�

Earlier this summer, the now-former BC Liberal government told Black Press that 香蕉视频直播渢here are more modern and cost-effective aircraft available for use in B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 varied terrain.香蕉视频直播�

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The Martin Mars planes have been the subject of much debate over the years with supporters claiming that nothing packs the same punch as the large waterbombers, while those against claim that the planes are expensive and unable to draw water from the province香蕉视频直播檚 smaller lakes.

Several delegates spoke out against the waterbombers.

Caribou Regional District director Dylan Cash told the convention that wildfire fire crews told him that the Mars was 香蕉视频直播渘o longer strategic in what they are doing香蕉视频直播� with the large fires that covered much of B.C. this summer.

More to come.