Jasper wildfire: Minister urges ‘need to do more’ during heated testimony

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said all levels of government will need to invest more to adapt Canadian communities and prevent climate-related disasters.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says all levels of government will need to invest more to adapt Canadian communities and prevent climate-related disasters like this summer’s devastating Jasper wildfire.

Speaking Wednesday evening to MPs at the House of Commons standing committee on environment and sustainable resources, Guilbeault defended his government’s approach to climate change and mitigation efforts, particularly from Conservative attacks and calls for Ottawa to take responsibility for a fire that destroyed nearly one-third of the beloved mountain town.

“I know the Conservative Party has an issue with this, but we are facing climate impacts like we have never dealt with before: floods, tropical storms, and yes, fires,” the minister said.

Exchanges between Guilbeault and Conservative MPs frequently devolved into shouting matches and accusations. At one point, Liberal chair Francis Scarpaleggia reminded members, “This is not question period.”

Questions were largely focused on what more the government and Parks Canada could do to prevent similar disasters.

The fire in Jasper spread with lightning speed and destroyed 30 per cent of the townsite, including more than 300 buildings.

Guilbeault said decades of measures implemented throughout Jasper National Park to reduce wildfire risk — including a large buffer zone, prescribed burns of fuelling vegetation and other efforts — had made Jasper “one of the most fire-prepared and resilient communities in Canada.”

July’s fire, Parks Canada officials said Wednesday, was impossible to prevent once it got out of control due to “extreme” conditions.