According to newly unearthed documents, the Liberal government was warned as early as 2017 that Jasper was a “tinderbox” waiting to explode but climate activists within the government refused to alter the “pristine environment.”According to documents obtained by the Western Standard, the Jasper National Park Management Plan identified the mountain pine beetle as a major risk for wildfires as far back as July 22, 2016.“Mountain pine beetle expansion in Jasper National Park and associated forest ‘may’ increase wildfire risk to values on neighbouring land," said the plan.In Jasper National Park alone, 1.1 million hectares were identified as at risk from an infestation that spread from British Columbia starting in 2006. “The presence of a large number of dead and dying trees is thought to to increase the risk of wildfire in the national park and surrounding area and this has been partially supported by the observation that in 2017 in British Columbia about one-third of forest fires were occurring in the dead stands,” it said.The Alberta Forest Service and Parks Canada approved a forest management plan but it was rejected by the Liberal government, documents show..In 2018, a pair of retired forestry workers who had worked in Jasper for more than 40 years, Emile Begin and Ken Hodges, warned officials at Parks Canada that a major fire in the Jasper area was “an inevitability” if it didn’t take steps to remove the abundance of dead fuel from the pine beetle.“You’ve got a major catastrophe on your hands if you get a match thrown into that,” they said. “If yo do not reduce that fuel, then you’re leaving a fire that might burn similar to what happened in Waterton.”In September, 2017 a major fire destroyed about 30% of the park including 70% of the forested area in it. Miraculously, the historic Prince of Wales of Hotel was saved by mere metres.But Parks Canada officials described the pine beetle infestation as “natural” and were reluctant to do anything about it.“Jasper is located in a forested environment and wildfires are always a concern to us,” said Alan Fehr, park superintendent at the time. “We’re quite comfortable with where we are with our own entrench planning and evacuation planning. We’re constantly trying to learn and improve and respond to conditions and the change in vegetation over time.” .This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
According to newly unearthed documents, the Liberal government was warned as early as 2017 that Jasper was a “tinderbox” waiting to explode but climate activists within the government refused to alter the “pristine environment.”According to documents obtained by the Western Standard, the Jasper National Park Management Plan identified the mountain pine beetle as a major risk for wildfires as far back as July 22, 2016.“Mountain pine beetle expansion in Jasper National Park and associated forest ‘may’ increase wildfire risk to values on neighbouring land," said the plan.In Jasper National Park alone, 1.1 million hectares were identified as at risk from an infestation that spread from British Columbia starting in 2006. “The presence of a large number of dead and dying trees is thought to to increase the risk of wildfire in the national park and surrounding area and this has been partially supported by the observation that in 2017 in British Columbia about one-third of forest fires were occurring in the dead stands,” it said.The Alberta Forest Service and Parks Canada approved a forest management plan but it was rejected by the Liberal government, documents show..In 2018, a pair of retired forestry workers who had worked in Jasper for more than 40 years, Emile Begin and Ken Hodges, warned officials at Parks Canada that a major fire in the Jasper area was “an inevitability” if it didn’t take steps to remove the abundance of dead fuel from the pine beetle.“You’ve got a major catastrophe on your hands if you get a match thrown into that,” they said. “If yo do not reduce that fuel, then you’re leaving a fire that might burn similar to what happened in Waterton.”In September, 2017 a major fire destroyed about 30% of the park including 70% of the forested area in it. Miraculously, the historic Prince of Wales of Hotel was saved by mere metres.But Parks Canada officials described the pine beetle infestation as “natural” and were reluctant to do anything about it.“Jasper is located in a forested environment and wildfires are always a concern to us,” said Alan Fehr, park superintendent at the time. “We’re quite comfortable with where we are with our own entrench planning and evacuation planning. We’re constantly trying to learn and improve and respond to conditions and the change in vegetation over time.” .This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
