MP Viersen Uncovers Liberals Left 60,000 Hectares of Dead Pine in Jasper Park  

November 19, 2024 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Ottawa, ON – Following the catastrophic wildfire that occurred in Jasper National Park this summer, Peace River – Westlock MP Arnold Viersen submitted an Order Paper Question to investigate what consultations and preventative steps the Liberals took prior to the wildfire. While the Liberal government refused to answer most of the questions; they did admit to leaving over 62,000 hectares of dead pine left standing in Jasper National Park.  

“Conservatives keep uncovering more evidence that the Liberal completely mismanage Jasper National Park in the lead up to the devastating fire that destroyed 40% of the town of Jasper,” said MP Arnold Viersen.  

“In September, we learned that the Liberals canceled prescribed burns against the advice of Alberta Forest management experts and allowed a tinder box to persist around the Jasper. Then in October, Conservatives uncovered that at least one Parks Canada employee was FIRED for raising concerns with the mismanagement at Jasper National Park and that 50 firefighters and 20 trucks ready to battle the flames in Jasper were turned away. 

“Now we know that the Liberals left a shocking 62,449 hectares of dead pine left standing, or 154,000 acres. At what point will Minister Guilbeault take responsibility for the terrible mismanagement for Jasper National Park and the irreparable harms to the people of Jasper.” 

The Liberal Government has been warned for years that Jasper National Park was at risk. In 2016, Conservatives first raised the alarm that pine beetles and poor forestry management had made Jasper vulnerable to wildfires, but the Liberals ignored the warnings.  

“The threat to communities in Jasper National Park will persist unless the Liberal Government fundamentally changes its approach to forest management, said MP Viersen. “A Conservative government will bring home proper forestry management based on keeping Canadians safe and listening to local and provincial experts in Alberta.” 

-30-