Alberta Asks Ottawa to Pay for Jasper Wildfire Recovery

Alberta is asking the federal government to pick up the costs related to Jasper’s recovery from this summer’s wildfires, saying the fire originated in an area of federal jurisdiction and Alberta wasn’t given much decision-making opportunity. “This is a fire which originated in the national park and then spread to the town of Jasper,” said Alberta Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis at an Oct. 7 House of Commons committee meeting, noting that national parks are under federal purview. “Therefore, we need to have a discussion on the costs, and that the federal government may be responsible for the cost of this fire.”...