Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
CN Rail’s decision to pull operations out of the Rocky Mountain tourist town of Jasper will have a devastating effect on local families, Mayor Richard Ireland said.
The company announced this week that it plans to transfer its operations from Jasper to Hinton about 100 kilometers to the east in Alberta, in September 2025.
A company memo sent to about 200 affected workers on Monday says the change will improve efficiency by reducing stops between Edmonton and Blue River, BC on the west side of the Rocky Mountains.
Ireland says CN Rail’s presence in the town, which dates back more than a century, is a key part of the community’s identity and he hopes the company will reconsider.
“This elimination will have a profound impact on local jobs and local families,” Ireland told reporters Friday in a virtual news conference. “And undoubtedly on the fabric of our community, which will be torn and weakened immeasurably.”
“As a mayor, and indeed personally, I am very disappointed.”
Ireland said the timing of the move only heightens the damage felt in Jasper after wildfires destroyed a third of the town’s homes and businesses in July and displaced 2,000 residents.
“My thoughts are with the affected CN employees and their families as they face this unwanted and unwanted transition,” he said.
“These people contribute significantly to the fabric of our community, and to face the possibility of their removal from Jasper is so incredibly sad for all of us.”
In a statement Thursday, the president of the union representing the affected workers said the company’s plan was “cruel.”
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“Rail is one of the largest industries in Jasper, after tourism, and CN’s move will further engage this community,” said Paul Boucher, president of the Canadian Teamsters Railway Conference.
“At a time when the residents of Jasper are still trying to pull their lives back together, CN is once again putting profit over people, oblivious to the needs of its employees and the community.”
Ashley Michnowski, spokesperson for CN Rail, said in an email that the company made the decision carefully.
“Jasper will always remain an important community for CN and our employees,” he said. “Although we do not anticipate that any changes will come into force until September 2025 at the earliest, it was important for us to have these conversations now.
“We hope that providing this lead time for implementing this change will help.”
Since the fire, CN Rail employees in Jasper have been reporting to work in Hinton.
Restoration work continued in Jasper this week.
Tuesday marked the first day of school for Jasper students after crews rushed to repair classrooms damaged by ash and smoke.
The community’s transit service also resumed on Tuesday, and on Wednesday Alberta Health Services lifted a boil water advisory that had been in place for parts of the town.
On Wednesday new federal legislation was introduced to begin the transfer of planning and land development authority to Jasper from Parks Canada. The transfer will allow Jasper to issue development permits in town, rather than Parks Canada.
Ireland, as well as federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, said the change will give local people a greater say in how the town is rebuilt.
The Alberta government announced Thursday that it is providing nearly $150 million in aid for Jasper.
The money can only be used for staff overtime, emergency food and accommodation, and other administrative expenses incurred by the town as a result of the fire, through the Disaster Recovery programme.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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