'It was a matter of time': Jasper-area locals react to federal mismanagement of wildfire

A devastating wildfire swept through Jasper National Park and into the historic Jasper townsite July 24, claiming 30% of the town's structures.

Although Minister of Environment and Climate Change (ECCC), Steven Guilbeault, has asserted that Parks Canada, under the purview of ECCC, took all necessary steps to prevent the fire, which has been described as a wall of flames, ministry reports dating back to 2022 suggest otherwise.

In 2017, former Conservative MP for the region Jim Eglinski raised the alarm about the amount of dead timber acting as fuel load after 44% of the park's trees had been harmed by the mountain pine beetle.

Eglinsky's concerns were echoed by experts in 2018.

And then again by Parks officials in 2020 and 2022.

While officials and ministers working for the federal government make decisions about how to manage the safety of the residents of Jasper and the surrounding area, Rebel News took to the streets of Hinton, the next municipality west of the fire, to ask the locals what they think about the excuses coming out of the federal government.

Did Parks Canada and the Environment Minister(s) do enough to mitigate the Jasper fire? Did they act on the knowledge they had?

Locals don't think so.

Sheila Gunn Reid

Chief Reporter

Sheila Gunn Reid is the Alberta Bureau Chief for Rebel News and host of the weekly The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid. She's a mother of three, conservative activist, and the author of best-selling books including Stop Notley.

COMMENTS

Be the first to comment

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.