logo
  • News
    • Community
    • Local Government
    • Sports
    • Alberta Politics
    • Opinion
    • Deke
  • Events
  • Jasper Builds
  • Peaks & Valleys
    • Wildlife
    • Hiking and Climbing
    • Biking
    • Fishing
    • Snow Sports
  • Culture
    • Jasper Arts & Culture
    • Local Dining
    • Local Literature
  • Jasper History
  • Support
    • News
      • Community
      • Local Government
      • Sports
      • Alberta Politics
      • Opinion
      • Deke
    • Events
    • Jasper Builds
    • Peaks & Valleys
      • Wildlife
      • Hiking and Climbing
      • Biking
      • Fishing
      • Snow Sports
    • Culture
      • Jasper Arts & Culture
      • Local Dining
      • Local Literature
    • Jasper History
    • Support
Forget Bachelor drama, tune in to Transit talk!
Who wore it better?
Community, Editorial, News, Opinion
By Bob Covey
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Forget Bachelor drama, tune in to Transit talk!

All of Jasper may have tuned into ABC’s The Bachelor Monday night, but I’m saving my screen time for an even juicier watch party.

Even though I am DYING to see if true love blossoms in the Canadian Rockies and whether or not Bachelor Joey Graziadei’s polar plunge in Lac Beauvert will shrivel his chances with the harem of hangers-on bunking up at JPL’s opulent Stanley Thompson cabin, I’m actually more interested in the drama unfolding at Jasper’s municipal council chambers on Tuesday.

Forget The Bachelor, we’ve got The Council! // Jasper Local file

Why? Because Jasper’s favourite Facebook topic is back on the docket. Yes, public transit will have its own rose ceremony when councillors vote on whether or not to advance a Request for Proposals (RFP) to build a new electric bus and e-bike fleet facility. Talk about a cliff hanger!

Now before all those Buy Sell and Trade “Top Contributors” start banging out caustic comments (edit: too late) and tear a strip off of town officials for spraying taxpayer dollars around like so much lukewarm Prosecco, remember that the money the town would be using to build its new public transit infrastructure comes from a federal government grant, and that local ratepayers would only be shelling out for less than 20 percent of the $6.2 million initiative. 

It seems to me that saying no to free money to jumpstart your public works project would be crazier than expecting to find one’s soulmate via an elimination-style, Mean Girls-meets-Maury Povich reality TV show. 

Have faith, ladies. // Twitter

But maybe that’s just me. 

Being a regular viewer of the epic docu-series known as the Municipality of Jasper’s YouTube channel, I have a couple of predictions before the drama unfolds on Tuesday. First, I can all but guarantee the subject of Jasper’s debt limit will come up—the notion being that the town would be encroaching on it by borrowing the $830K (with interest) it needs to fund the fleet facility. 

Taking this position is misleading in that it ignores the fact that Jasper is well-within its debt capacity, and also that debentures (long-term borrowing) are used for exactly this type of long-term capital project. 

But I get that it’s good for ratings.

Another narrative that will sprout up as sure as Joey’s hunky 5’o’clock shadow is one which disparages electric vehicles—and electric busses, by association—as unreliable and having a reduced winter range. This viewpoint is perhaps understandable in that there have been media reports close to home (Edmonton) which have put electric transit in a bad light.

However, with a little further digging about what led to EV darling Proterra’s bankruptcy, and taking into consideration the Jasper context, where routes are shorter and there will be ample time to charge up the vehicles between service, saying all EVs are junk seems a trifle exaggerated—like Joey posing in front of a half-acre of firewood, pretending it was his axe which split it all. 

We know you didn’t chop that, Joey. // ABC

The true heroes, those who will be chopping it up for real, will be Jasper’s elected officials as they hop back on the bumpy subject of public transit. It’s too bad that anything which has to do with moving residents and visitors around a national park community with a municipally-run transit system has become so corrosive, but I guess that’s small town politics for ya. 

The bus stops here. // Bob Covey

What would be great is if some Jasperites could ratchet down the pearl clutching and judge the utility of embracing public transit by its own merits…you know: reducing single-car use, making life more affordable and getting people—including those without access to personal transportation—around the community and the park more efficiently.

Admittedly, the roll out of Jasper Transit has left a lot to be desired—residents have complained about the system’s initial scheduling, asked questions about the safety of the special school route and in general, haven’t yet incorporated it into their daily lives. I’m optimistic that the spring and summer will see increased ridership and allow operators to continue to work out the bugs. 

But for those councillors who have it in their minds to vote the $5 million grant off the island with sky-is-falling pronouncements and whataboutisms, please: log off of Facebook, spare us the drama and try to see the bigger picture. We’re talking about getting $5 million to help power a remote, rural community’s infrastructure into the future—during a time when the province is aiming to double Alberta’s tourism economy to $25 billion in the next 10 years. You think it’s hard to find a place to park in the summer now?

Chop chop! Decision time! // Twitter

I get that public transit and Jasper has had a rough honeymoon, but if $10 of federal funding to $2 of municipal money isn’t marriage material, Joey Graziadei, well then I don’t know what is!


Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com   

Articles You May LIke ›
SunDog wins bid for regional transit service
Business
SunDog wins bid for regional transit service
Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative, Jasper Fitzhugh 
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Regional service is intended to support wildfire-displaced Jasperites unable to live in the townsite Jasper council voted unanimously on Tuesday (June...
this is a test
Alberta politicos vote Richard Ireland as Best Municipal Elected Official in 2024
Alberta Politics
Alberta politicos vote Richard Ireland as Best Municipal Elected Official in 2024
Bob Covey 
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Jasper’s mayor is number one. Richard Ireland has been voted Best Municipal Elected Official in political watcher Dave Cournoyer’s Best of Alberta Pol...
this is a test
MOJ attempts to ice arena users’ concerns after letters flood into council
Community
MOJ attempts to ice arena users’ concerns after letters flood into council
Bob Covey 
Friday, November 22, 2024
Arena is expected to be ready for use the week of December 16; dressing rooms to follow The Municipality of Jasper is responding to a letter writing c...
this is a test
Jasper wildfire “being held” as residents re-enter
Community
Jasper wildfire “being held” as residents re-enter
Bob Covey 
Saturday, August 17, 2024
On the day of a fallen firefighter’s memorial, the Jasper Wildfire Complex has been downgraded from “out of control” to “being held.” On August 17, as...
this is a test
Most Read ›
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Health
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Public health officials have confirmed a person with measles has been in a public setting in Jasper while infectious. Yesterday (July 14, 2025), Alber...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
Community
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
John Wilmshurst, guest contributor 
Monday, July 14, 2025
Jasper roping up for celebrations of Mount Alberta's 1925 inaugural ascent If you are going to steal a mountain in Jasper, I’d recommend Mount Alberta...
this is a test
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Community
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
It was with a feeling of trepidation that we approached Jasper this year. We have been regular visitors since 2001 and it’s become a kind of home away...
this is a test
Latest ›
Trail tech: The next generation
Biking
Trail tech: The next generation
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Rugged roads and twisting trails await those who seek. Thanks to its history of trail use by outfitters and recreationalists, Jasper has established i...
this is a test
Introducing Linwood Homes
Featured Builders
Introducing Linwood Homes
Saturday, June 28, 2025
How long have you been in business? Linwood Homes was founded i n 1968 in Alberta. Our business is over 55 years old. How many homes have you built? W...
this is a test
Finding their bearings: How bears use habitat
Environment
Finding their bearings: How bears use habitat
Mark Bradley 
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Dry grass crunched underfoot as the old grizzly searched for food. Her nostrils flared and her nose twitched as she tested her surroundings for anythi...
this is a test
Golf’s golden years at Jasper Park
Jasper History
Golf’s golden years at Jasper Park
John Wilmshurst, freelance contributor 
Monday, June 23, 2025
100 years ago, the Jasper Park Golf Club teed up its first round of the Royal and Ancient Game In 1457, King James II of England banned golf in Scotla...
this is a test

NEXT ARTICLE

The Grizzly and the Coward

Guest Editorial, Hiking and Climbing, Local Literature, News

Most Read ›
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Health
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Public health officials have confirmed a person with measles has been in a public setting in Jasper while infectious. Yesterday (July 14, 2025), Alber...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
Community
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
John Wilmshurst, guest contributor 
Monday, July 14, 2025
Jasper roping up for celebrations of Mount Alberta's 1925 inaugural ascent If you are going to steal a mountain in Jasper, I’d recommend Mount Alberta...
this is a test
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Community
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
It was with a feeling of trepidation that we approached Jasper this year. We have been regular visitors since 2001 and it’s become a kind of home away...
this is a test
Latest ›
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Health
Measles case in Jasper prompts health alert
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Public health officials have confirmed a person with measles has been in a public setting in Jasper while infectious. Yesterday (July 14, 2025), Alber...
this is a test
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Community
Letter: Jasper remains a wonderful place to visit
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
It was with a feeling of trepidation that we approached Jasper this year. We have been regular visitors since 2001 and it’s become a kind of home away...
this is a test
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
Community
Mount Alberta centennial: standing on the shoulders of giants
John Wilmshurst, guest contributor 
Monday, July 14, 2025
Jasper roping up for celebrations of Mount Alberta's 1925 inaugural ascent If you are going to steal a mountain in Jasper, I’d recommend Mount Alberta...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
This site complies with Jasper requirements
Contact us
Privacy Policy
Advertise With Us
About The Jasper Local
Accessibility Policy
Support

Follow Us

Advertise with us

Measurable, targeted, local. Email example@thejasperlocal.com

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store

© Copyright The Jasper Local