Jasper, Alberta's Chief Administrative Officer Bill Given responded Friday to criticism regarding a report commissioned by the town about last summer's devastating wildfire. The report has drawn scrutiny, particularly after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called for an apology from the town, suggesting the report unfairly blamed the province for complicating firefighting efforts.

Given emphasized that initial media coverage did not fully capture the report's content. He stated, "As with any comprehensive report, looking at any one part of it in isolation can easily lead to a mischaracterization of the overall content." He encouraged the public to read the entire report to understand its scope and context.

The report, released Thursday, highlighted some aspects that indicated the Alberta government may have hindered firefighting efforts by inserting itself into a command structure already established between Jasper and Parks Canada. Smith criticized both the report and its media portrayal, calling it "disheartening" and claiming it misrepresented the province's role in the wildfire response. In a statement co-signed by three cabinet ministers, she described the report as politically motivated and selective in its framing, failing to recognize the efforts of provincial emergency personnel.

Smith also pointed out that the report did not adequately address the federal government's role in the wildfire, particularly its failure to remove flammable debris from the area over the years. She expressed hope that Jasper would apologize for the report's implications.

The 57-page report does not explicitly blame the province but suggests that provincial officials may have delayed firefighting efforts during the crisis. One section notes, "Provincial involvement added complexity to the response," indicating that the province sought to exercise decision-making authority despite not being responsible for leading the incident.

The report also mentions that the province's involvement created "political challenges that disrupted the focus of Incident Commanders," diverting attention from managing the wildfire response.

Jasper, located within Jasper National Park, faced significant destruction from the wildfire, which affected one-third of the town and thousands of hectares of surrounding forest. A spokesperson for the town acknowledged the province's contributions, stating, "We deeply appreciate the role Alberta Wildfire, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, and other provincial teams played during the response."

The spokesperson did not directly address the premier's comments or indicate whether an apology would be issued. Federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski stated she is reviewing the report and plans to provide further comments soon. She also mentioned that she would visit Jasper next week to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the wildfire.