Unconventional Panel gives report card on government response to Fort McMurray wildfires

When the smoke clears, the Fort McMurray fire is expected to be the most destructive and expensive natural disaster in Canadian history.

Already, the provincial and federal governments have made financial promises to help rebuild the community but how well have their leaders responded, overall, to the emergency?

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That's the question the Calgary Eyeopenerasked this week's Unconventional Panel: CEO of West Canadian Industries George Brookman, Calgary engineer Ravin Moorthy and Calgary Herald columnist Val Fortney.

Here is their report card:

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley

Alberta's premier received an A+ from all of our panelists.

George: "I have nothing but praise for the job she's done."

Ravin: "I think she's been brilliant, absolutely brilliant."

Val: "I just love the fact that sometimes she`s gone on TV Looking like she just fled the fire. Like Her hair was disheveled, she doesn't look like she's had much sleep, and I think that's what you want your leader to look like."

Calgary Eyeopener8:33Unconventional Panel on government response to Fort McMurray fires

How well have the provincial and federal governments responded to the Fort McMurray fire? The Eyeopener's Unconventional Panel debates the issue.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Ravin: "I cannot believe that the Prime Minister of Canada in the biggest natural disaster in the history of this country hasn't shown up," he said.

"This is the king of the photo op and the king of the photo op couldn't come to even Edmonton to a centre for displaced people and pass on a couple of boxes? When he wanted our vote, he was here. He was here to canoe in the river, he was here every time we didn't need him. He's like the neighbour who promises to help you move and the day you move, he's on vacation."

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Val: "I don't know who's advising. I think it's pretty bad advice for him to wait. By the time he gets here, it's going to be a good 10 days afterwards."

George: "I think it's fine, he can stay in Ottawa as far as I'm concerned. He'd just be a distraction. These guys were fighting a terrible fire, the last thing they needed was a bunch of limos driving around," he said.

"I think he can stay right where he is and when the time comes he can just come out with money lots of money for us."

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener