Out-of-control wildfire near Jasper, Alta., grows to 8,000 hectares: Parks Canada | Canada News Media
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Out-of-control wildfire near Jasper, Alta., grows to 8,000 hectares: Parks Canada

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A wildfire burning in Jasper National Park’s Chetamon Mountain is now estimated to cover an area of between 5,000 and 7,000 hectares, Parks Canada said Monday.

An earlier estimate Monday pegged the fire at about 8,000 hectares.

A lightning strike on Sept. 1 started the fire, which grew from 400 hectares Saturday to 1,500 hectares Sunday.

Warm, dry and windy weather Sunday pushed the fire eastward, but the region had overnight rain, the agency said,

Katie Ellsworth, a fire management officer with Parks Canada, said Monday the fire posed no threat to the town of Jasper, about 360 kilometres west of Edmonton.

The fire was about 15 kilometres north of the town, Ellsworth said.

“We’ve been really challenged by the rugged and complex terrain,” Ellsworth said of the Chetamon area.

“The significant smoke conditions are making it challenging for bucket operations and it’s making it challenging to access some of those larger water resources like water tankers from our partners in Alberta,” she said.

Warm, dry and windy weather Sunday fuelled the fire on Chetamon Mountain, Parks Canada said. (Kevin Gedling/Parks Canada)

Power in Jasper went out again early Monday morning, after a brief outage was restored Sunday evening, wildfire officials said.

As of Sunday, eight helicopters were flying over the fire to drop water on the flames; 77 Parks Canada firefighters and personnel, as well as other pilots and contractors, were working to prevent the fire from spreading to high-risk areas, the agency said.

A heatwave that settled over much of Alberta the past week has not helped with fire conditions. Several areas in Alberta set new daily maximum temperature records on Sunday including Calgary and Edmonton but cooler temperatures are setting in around Jasper. Rain is expected today and later this week.

The agency’s top priority is protecting critical infrastructure and adding more helicopters to the suppression efforts, officials said. That includes protecting culturally significant sites, such as the Moberly Homestead, which is part of Métis history.

The fire spread to the Atco, TransMountain and Canadian National Railway lines, officials said.

Parks Canada closed Snaring and Celestine Lake Roads and the surrounding areas, including nearby campgrounds, to ensure public safety during fire operations.

The agency also restricted aircraft take off and landing at the Jasper air strip, citing public safety.

Parks Canada fire specialists will fly over the area Monday to assess if the rainfall had an impact on the fire, the agency said. (Submitted by Hugo Sanchez)

Fire spreads to Jasper, Alta., power supply

Before Jasper lost power Sunday evening, Alberta Emergency Alert had advised residents to prepare for a possible power outage, including filling up their vehicle’s fuel tank, as gas stations rely on electricity.

Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland, who held a joint press conference Sunday with fire officials, urged residents and people visiting the area to adhere to restrictions and other advisories and closures.

Ireland also told residents to make sure their cellphone batteries are charged.

“Our message, still, is one of preparation,” Ireland said.

“The message to residents and visitors is – that in the face of uncertainty, be prepared. I don’t know how long extensive might be, and we don’t know yet, all of the capacity issues so there is just such uncertainty in this unfolding situation.”

No evacuation order has been issued.

The municipality had been working with Atco and Parks Canada in the event of a power outage.

Amanda Mattern, regional manager for Atco Electric, said Monday the utility switched to emergency generation to critical sites like the hospital, fire hall and the municipality’s emergency crisis centre.  Atco will look to extend power to homes and businesses in the coming days.

Ireland did not anticipate the need for an evacuation as of Sunday afternoon. But new visitors may eventually be restricted from coming into Jasper, and resources may need to be directed to helping people currently visiting exit the community, he said.

Hugo Sanchez, an Edmonton resident visiting the area, said it looked like the entire mountain was in flames.

“It’s devastating to see all the fire,” Sanchez told CBC News. “[Crews] are trying to put it out. They can’t — but you see they’re trying their best.”

Air quality statement issued

Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for the Jasper National Park area Monday morning, because wildfire smoke continues to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility.

People may experience increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath, the statement says, adding that children, seniors and those with heart or lung disease are particularly at-risk.

Environment Canada advises people in the area to consider taking precautions to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke.

Most of Alberta, including the Jasper National Park area, is under fire advisories, restrictions or bans.

The wildfire, which is burning about 15 kilometres north of Jasper, does not pose a risk to the community, officials said. (Submitted by Steve Campbell)

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Quick Quotes: What Liberal MPs have to say as the caucus debates Trudeau’s future

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October 23, 2024

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OTTAWA – Here are some notable quotes from Liberal members of Parliament as they headed into a caucus meeting Wednesday where they are set to debate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership.

Comments made after the caucus meeting:

“The Liberal party is strong and united.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

———

“Justin Trudeau is reflecting and he’s standing strong and we’re standing strong as a Liberal party.”

“We as a party recognize that the real threat here is Pierre Poilievre and that’s what we’re fighting for.”

“Trudeau has made very clear that he feels he’s the right choice but he appreciates all of what is being said because he’s reflecting on what is being done across Canada. I respect his decision, whatever that may be.”

Charles Sousa, MP for Mississauga—Lakeshore

———

“We had some open and frank discussions. People are relentlessly focused on serving Canadians and win the next election. This was really a rallying call to win the next election.”

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, MP for Saint Maurice—Champlain

———

“I don’t know how many people spoke, well over 50 I’m sure. They came at this from all angles and now (we’ve) got to go back and process this.

“We’re on a good path.

“It was very respectful. You know, caucus has always had the ability to get into some tough conversations. We did it again today and it went extremely well. Where we land? Who knows? You know we have to go and really process this stuff. But one thing that is absolutely, you know, fundamental is that we are united in the fact that we cannot let that creature from the Conservative party run the country. He would ruin things that people greatly value.”

Ken Hardie, MP for Fleetwood—Port Kells

———

Comments from before the caucus meeting:

“There’s a — what would you call it? Some palace drama going on right now. And that takes us away from the number 1 job, which is focusing on Canadians and focusing on the important policies but also on showing the really clear contrast between our government, our party and Pierre Poilievre.”

Randy Boissonnault, Employment Minister, MP for Edmonton Centre

———

“We’re going to go in there and we’re going to have an excellent discussion and we are going to emerge united.”

Treasury Board President and Transport Minister Anita Anand, MP for Oakville

———

“I think caucus is nervous because of the polling that has been constantly going down in favour of Liberals, and there’s a lot of people who do want to run again. I’m not running again, although I already told the prime minister that. But there are people there that want to run again and they’re nervous because of what polls are saying.”

“He has to start listening.”

Ken McDonald, MP for Avalon

———

“We’re going to have a good caucus meeting. MPs should be free to air their perspectives, I’m sure they will, and we’ll come out of it united.”

Peter Fragiskatos, MP for London North Centre

———

“I have to read the room. There’s all sorts of wheels within wheels turning right now. I’m just going to go in there, I’m going to make my mind a blank and just soak it all in.”

“I’m not going to say anything about (the prime minister) until I have my say in there.”

Ken Hardie, MP for Fleetwood—Port Kells

———

“I wish there was a mechanism for it, yes,” he said, responding to whether he wanted a secret ballot vote in caucus to determine Trudeau’s leadership.

Sean Casey, MP for Charlottetown

———

“The prime minister will always be on my posters and he is welcome in Winnipeg North any time.”

Kevin Lamoureux, MP for Winnipeg North

———

“Absolutely I support the prime minister.”

Yvonne Jones, MP for Labrador

———

“When you look divided, you look weak.”

Judy Sgro, MP for Humber River—Black Creek

———

“I think Pierre Poilievre is absolutely beatable, he’s ripe for the picking with the right vision, the right leadership and the right direction for our party. The Liberal party is an institution in this country. It’s bigger than one person, one leader, and it’s incumbent on us as elected officials to make sure we put the best foot forward.”

Wayne Long, MP for Saint John—Rothesay

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.



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With Liberal election win, First Nations in N.B. look forward to improved relations

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October 23, 2024

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FREDERICTON – Chief Allan Polchies says he is excited about New Brunswick’s new Liberal provincial government.

Polchies, of St. Mary’s First Nation, says he looks forward to meaningful dialogue with premier-designate Susan Holt after years of tense relations with the outgoing Progressive Conservatives under Blaine Higgs.

He is one of six Wolastoqey Nation chiefs who have filed a land claim for a significant part of the province, arguing treaty rights have not been respected by corporations and governments, both of which have exploited the land for hundreds of years.

The December 2021 court challenge has been a sore point between Indigenous Peoples and the Higgs’s government.

Eight Mi’kmaw communities are also asserting Aboriginal title to land in the province, and they say they hope to work with Holt and her team on “advancing issues that are important to our communities.”

Holt’s campaign didn’t give details on the Liberal government’s position on the Indigenous claims, but she has said she wants to rebuild trust between the province and First Nations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Abdelrazik tells of despair when Ottawa denied him passport to return home from Sudan

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October 23, 2024

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OTTAWA – Abousfian Abdelrazik told a court today about the roller-coaster of emotions he experienced during the tense days of early 2009 when he awaited the green light to return to Canada from Sudan.

The Sudanese-born Abdelrazik settled in Montreal as a refugee and became a Canadian citizen in 1995.

During a 2003 visit to his native country to see his ailing mother, he was arrested, imprisoned and questioned about suspected terrorist connections.

Abdelrazik says he was tortured during two periods of detention by the Sudanese intelligence agency.

He is suing the federal government, claiming officials arranged for his arbitrary imprisonment, encouraged his detention by Sudanese authorities and actively obstructed his repatriation to Canada for several years.

In March 2009, he made arrangements to fly home to Canada and asked Ottawa to issue him an emergency passport, but his hopes were dashed — at least temporarily — when the request was turned down.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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