Federal, Alberta governments to match Red Cross donations to Jasper

The federal and Alberta governments have announced a donation-matching initiative to help those impacted by wildfires in Jasper.

The federal and Alberta governments will match all donations to the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal, meaning each $1 donation will become $3.

“The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta stand by Albertans and all those affected by the wildfires, and will continue to work together to do everything we can to ensure public safety and help rebuild,” said Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan.

“I want to thank the first responders, volunteers, non-governmental organizations and emergency managers across all levels of governments and Indigenous communities for their heroic work in the response and recovery efforts in Alberta.”

The donation matching will be for 30 days, retroactive to when it first opened on July 25th.

THERE’S WORD THE JASPER WILDFIRE COULD COST THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AN ESTIMATED 700-MILLION DOLLARS: THAT WOULD MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE WILDFIRE DISASTERS IN CANADIAN HISTORY.

IN FACT, CREDIT-RATING AGENCY “D-B-R-S MORNINGSTAR” SAYS THE POTENTIAL INSURED LOSSES COULD COME CLOSE TO—OR BE EVEN HIGHER THAN THOSE OF THE 2011 SLAVE LAKE, ALBERTA FIRE: ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION—IT REACHED ABOUT 700-MILLION.

MEANTIME, JASPER OFFICIALS HAVE RELEASED A MAP—LISTING ALL OF THE STRUCTURES DESTROYED BY TH3 MASSIVE WILDFIRE.

PARKS CANADA SAYS MOST OF THEM WERE DESTROYED—AN ESTIMATED ONE-THIRD OF THE 11-HUNDRED-PLUS STRUCTURES: WHILE VERY FEW ARE SEEN AS BEING DAMAGED.

With files from the Vista wire