Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is pushing back forcefully against a report commissioned by the Municipality of Jasper that criticizes her government’s role in last summer’s wildfire response, calling the findings “politically motivated” and demanding a public apology.
Speaking at a press conference in Edmonton on Friday, Smith said the report unfairly targeted the province and overlooked the collaborative efforts that helped save the mountain town from complete destruction.
“I’m very disappointed that this report politicizes what actually should be a very successful example of unified command,” Smith said. “This report came as a shot out of the blue. It’s unfair, it’s untrue, and I would like them to withdraw it.”
The report, based on feedback from firefighters and emergency staff, alleges that the United Conservative Party (UCP) government complicated the wildfire response by frequent requests for updates and attempts to influence decisions in an area outside its jurisdiction. The wildfire occurred within Jasper National Park, a federally managed area.
Smith rejected those claims, stating clearly:
“This was a federal fire. It took place in a federal park, and it was a federal Parks Canada response.”
She went on to say that the federal government delayed asking for provincial assistance, and criticized Ottawa for not doing more to mitigate wildfire risk by clearing out dead trees, which she said fueled the flames.
“We want to work collaboratively with our municipal and federal partners, but pointing fingers at others when they should be looking at what they can do to improve their own response would have been a far better outcome,” Smith added.
In response, a spokesperson for the Municipality of Jasper said the town would not comment directly on Smith’s remarks, but defended the report’s integrity and purpose.
“The after-action review was commissioned by the municipality and independently authored, with the intent of supporting continuous improvement in emergency response and coordination,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“The review focuses specifically on the municipality’s role within the unified command structure during the wildfire. It does not assess the actions of Parks Canada or the Province of Alberta, nor does it cover recovery efforts or broader environmental conditions.”
The municipality also expressed deep appreciation for the role played by Alberta Wildfire, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, and other provincial teams during both the wildfire and the recovery period.
The fire, which tore through Jasper National Park, destroyed approximately one-third of the town’s structures, prompting weeks of emergency response efforts coordinated between municipal, provincial, and federal agencies.
Despite the municipality’s attempt to distance the report from political controversy, the incident has reignited debates over inter-agency coordination, jurisdictional authority, and accountability during large-scale natural disasters in Alberta.
