A group of Alberta energy executives has cancelled their corporate retreat in Jasper because they’re mad that the municipality’s mayor wants federal politicians to make climate change a priority. 

What other conclusion could anyone take away from reading an April 15 letter from the Mullen Group, a trucking and logistics company based in Okotoks, AB? 

“We chose Jasper Park Lodge with the intention of supporting another Alberta-based business and contributing to the economic recovery of Jasper,” wrote Mullen Group Senior Corporate Officer Joanna K. Scott, while cc’ing all of Jasper municipal council, the local chamber of commerce, the Alberta Motor Transport Association, and—presumably to warn other resort towns who support climate change action—Banff mayor Corrie DiManno. “However, the recent ‘Elbows Up for Climate Action’ open letter, endorsed by the mayor of Jasper, has made it unequivocally clear that the business of Mullen Group is neither appreciated nor respected within your community.”

ICYMI, on April 11 Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland signed his name to an open letter to federal candidates on the campaign trail. In it, the mayor, who in July lost his home of six decades to a climate change disaster, asked parliamentary hopefuls to focus on projects and actions which address the threat of…wait for it…climate change disasters! 

But Mullen Group says the 124 mayors and councillors’ open letter represents a “blatant disregard for Alberta-based enterprises,” and says it is “foolish to show such disrespect at a time when Jasper is in dire need of economic support from Albertans, whose livelihoods are predominately tied to the energy sector.”

Let me get this straight: Because the mayor wants to see a clean energy grid, a high-speed rail network in Canada’s north, and energy efficient homes, you interpret that as a slight? Because he’s advocating for a resilience, response and recovery strategy so communities don’t have to go through the same nightmare that Jasper’s been going through for the last nine months, you take it personally? 

“Clearly, the town of Jasper has no genuine interest in economic recovery if it openly opposes and alienates the primary industries of the province,” the Mullen Group cries. 

Sure, fam. We obviously don’t want our economy to recover because a community official has the gall to suggest politicians’ incessant focus on resource-extractive projects makes us ever-more dependent on the U.S. 

What was it exactly that made you so mad that you’re not just cancelling your reservation, but formally requesting a full refund? Was it saying the environment matters? Was it suggesting Canada redirect billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies and increase taxes on big polluters? Was it the pipeline slander?

“Let’s be honest,” the mayors’ appeal reads. “New pipelines require massive public handouts, trample on Indigenous sovereignty and mean more climate disasters hitting our cities and towns in years to come.”

That must have been it. All you wanted to do was help us recover, “but it is evident that Jasper does not support Alberta industries such as those operated by Mullen Group.” 

Maybe you guys are right. Maybe Jasper should just STFU when it comes to wanting to use our tragedy to help other communities across Canada be prepared for the reality of severe weather and climate change. Maybe we should just be happy that affluent energy execs are willing to sprinkle some of their disposable income on crazy, mixed up, traumatized Jasper.

Maybe we should kiss the ring, and never mind the floods, forget about the fires, deny the droughts and damn the disasters. The climate’s always been warming, right? 

But you know, even though that strategy would probably ensure Jasper doesn’t lose any more corporate retreats from Okotoks, I can’t stop thinking about that letterhead on which you penned your pearl-clutching cancellation.

“We think about tomorrow,” your tagline says. Your website expands on this idea: “We challenge ourselves to be students of history, but not stuck in the past. We view tomorrow as where we want to be, which requires that we think about what is happening around us today and then strategize.”

Joanna, with respect, I have a feeling that if that corporate baloney were actually true, your executives and Jasper’s mayor would have very little to disagree about.  

Sorry you won’t be coming up to visit. We would have happily shown you around so you could have seen that, despite your so badly wanting to be offended by our mayor’s plea to politicians to build for the future, that we are, in fact, all in this together.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com