ID 101197813 © Elantsev | Dreamstime.com

By Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press

Third Party Report

Jasper mayor stands by critical wildfire report, expects no bad blood with province

Jul 21, 2025 | 2:56 PM

The mayor of Jasper, Alta., says he stands by a report commissioned by his town that criticizes Premier Danielle Smith’s government response to a wildfire that destroyed a third of the Rocky Mountain community.

Smith has demanded the report, issued last week, be retracted and that the town issue an apology.

Mayor Richard Ireland says the report has been misrepresented and was never intended to be, in his words, a “political document.”

The third-party report surveyed front-line firefighters and other officials to determine ways to improve future fire responses and found the province’s interference disrupted the focus of fighting the fires.

Ireland made the comments as the town approaches the one-year anniversary of the fire this week, and he says he’s not concerned the bad blood will interfere with the two sides rebuilding the community.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Smith’s office says they share Jasper’s concerns that the report was misrepresented and appreciates the town acknowledges it was not intended to criticize her government’s contributions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2025.