No Visitors: Parks Canada says only Jasper residents can return on Friday following devastating blaze

Residents will be the only ones able to re-enter Jasper, Alberta, Parks Canada announced on Wednesday.

Officials had previously said that they were unable to prevent non-residents from going to the town. Those comments have now been walked back.

“Re-entry on August 15 is for residents only,” Parks Canada posted on Wednesday.

“Resident security concerns have been heard. Your safe return is our priority. We are in this together," they wrote, according to CTV News.

The post says residents will be able to show their resident parking pass which were issued by Parks Canada or self-declare at park gates in order to enter. Residents will be given a re-entry guide.

“RCMP will be stationed at the east entrance ensuring everyone entering has a resident re-entry guide,” Parks Canada said. “The only entrance to town will be the east entrance.”

Those without a resident re-entry guide will be directed to drive through the park without stopping through Highway 16.

While the Justin Trudeau Liberals continue to make wildfires a political issue that they claim can be solved by taxes, it has come to light that this particular tragedy was preventable.

The ministry of the environment said in 2022 that Jasper Park was not cleared out acres of whitebark pine were killed off by beetles.

Pine beetles infested almost half (44%) of Jasper’s whitebark pine forest, but few steps were taken to reduce Jasper's wildfire risk, records show.

Parks managers two years ago wrote they would follow up “targeted burns” with tree planting to replace dead pine, reported Blacklock’s Reporter. “It is likely 520,000 seedlings may be required,” said the Implementation Report. Yet only 18,000 seedlings were planted, with no explanation as to why.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault would take no responsibility for the tragedy.

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  • Evan Gilboord
    commented 2024-09-17 14:25:37 -0400
    Yanky, you can try and test here.