Feds say Jasper’s efforts still top priority after Boissonnault’s departure

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OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government is not naming a replacement yet person pointing at jasper It follows Alberta MP Randy Boissonnault’s departure from cabinet, but he says rebuilding the fire-ravaged Alberta town remains a top priority.

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“Multiple members of our club are handling the case,” a senior government official told the National Post. “We will continue to coordinate recovery efforts with provincial and local officials.”

Boissonnault, Trudeau’s cabinet includes only Albertans Name given by Wednesday Jasper’s ministry leadership In October.

He said it was an important role for him as the province’s only federal minister at the time.

“As Alberta minister, it’s really important that I can do this work with a number of ministers at the provincial level so we can get the job done,” Boissonnault told reporters in Ottawa.

Boissonnault was appointed head of a cabinet-level working group on Jasper and later oversaw its distribution. more than 20 million dollars federal aid to the municipality.

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Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland said in a statement Wednesday that he was saddened to see Boissonnault step away from the position.

“We are disappointed to lose Minister Boissonnault, who assumed federal ministerial leadership for Jasper’s recovery,” Ireland wrote in an email. “He immersed himself in our ongoing challenges and was an engaged, active and effective advocate on our behalf.”

The opposition Conservatives were less concerned about the vacuum created by Boissonnault’s departure.

“The Trudeau government was warned repeatedly, but after years of ignoring the obvious serious fire risks, it allowed Jasper to go up in flames. After nearly a decade of neglect, it doesn’t matter which Liberal is chosen to replace Trudeau’s faux-advisor,” Conservative emergency critic Dane Lloyd said on Wednesday.

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Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver, the province’s leader on Jasper, declined to comment on Boissonnaut’s departure.

Jasper Town lost a third of its structures A wildfire that started in a nearby federal park in July spread to the Columbia River and some people 25,000 people will flee area.

The disaster came after experts warned of the possibility for years “a catastrophic fire” This raises many questions about the federal government’s forest management practices, including its failure to remove thousands of forest animals. Pine beetle destroys dead trees from the region.

House of Commons set up a committee To investigate the causes of the fire in September.

Boissonnault’s departure from the cabinet working group on Jasper leaves six members, including Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, Housing Minister Sean Fraser and Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan.

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Guilbeault is also the minister responsible for Parks Canada.

Liberal officials have not said what role Boissonnault will have in the Jasper dossier as a rank-and-file member of the caucus.

Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor will temporarily assume Boissonnault’s responsibilities as minister of employment and minister of official languages, the prime minister said Wednesday.

Petitpas Taylor’s office told the National Post on Thursday that Jasper will not assume the ministry leadership role.

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