Canada's 'infernal summer' puts climate change at forefront of election

FILE PHOTO: A helicopter battles the Bear Creek fire that sprung up south of the White Rock forest on Westside Rd. near Fintry, Canada, August 24, 2021. REUTERS/Artur Gajda

CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - Canadians are demanding decisive action from leaders to tackle climate change after a summer of extreme weather intensified environmental concerns, making it the No. 1 issue in September's snap election, polling data shows.

For many Canadians, 2021 is the year the climate crisis hit home. A "heat dome" scorched Canada's westernmost province of British Columbia in June, smashing national temperature records, contributing to more than 500 deaths and heralding the start of the province's third-worst wildfire season.