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Edmonton Centre MP and cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault will serve as the ministerial lead for Jasper as the community continues to recover from last summer’s devastating wildfire, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday.
Boissonnault is also the minister for employment, workforce development and official languages.
In his new role, Boissonnault will lead the federal government’s work to support people and businesses in Jasper as well as coordinate with other levels of government and Indigenous leaders.
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“Jasper holds a special place in the hearts of millions. My colleagues and I will work hard to give Mayor Ireland, the Town Council, local businesses, and every Jasperite the support they need to build the town back on their terms – and even better than before,” he said in a statement.
The role will also be supported by a working group of six other Cabinet ministers including Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, and Housing Minister Sean Fraser.
“We’re undertaking a collective effort – with resources, investments, and partnerships – to help Jasper recover,” Trudeau stated.
The federal government has said it’s willing to provide financial assistance to the province via Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements.
Speaking to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said the province should’ve had more more decision-making authority as the fire burned through the national park.
The same committee heard arguments over whether Parks Canada could have done more to clear the nearby forest of highly flammable deadwood from pine beetle infestation, with Conservative MPs saying the federal agency came up short, and government ministers insisting prior efforts were why 70 per cent of the townsite was saved.
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