The fate of longterm Canadian National (CN) employees based in Jasper whose reporting terminal is being relocated is being discussed by local officials.
And although CN has declined to comment on the matter, a report from Jasper’s Mayor to municipal council suggests railroaders may have some hope to hold onto regarding their eligible residency status with Parks Canada.
Last September, through an email sent to its Jasper-based employees, the railroad corporation gave notice that it will be closing its crew change facility in Jasper.
“CN has made the decision to implement operational changes to improve network fluidity between Edmonton and Blue River/McBride,” a September 16 letter from Nicole James, Vice President of Transportation in CN’s Western Region stated. “Effective September 1, 2025, current Jasper-based employees will report for work in the Hinton-Dalehurst area.”
The move will affect hundreds of Jasper railroaders who have built their lives in Jasper. Union leader Ray Donegan, General Chairperson for Conductors, Tradespersons and Yardmen (CTY) of Western Canada, said at the time that the company’s decision will “gut the town.”
Part of the disruption is for those CNers who are single, or whose spouses don’t work due to the unpredictable schedule of a railroader. In those employees’ cases, moving their work out of town could mean they may no longer qualify under Jasper National Park’s Eligible Residency clause.
However, according to Mayor Richard Ireland, who spoke with CN delegates during the Federation of Canadian Municipalities 2025 conference in Ottawa over the May 29 weekend, there may be a thread of hope for CN workers whose eligible residency is up in the air.
“CN indicated they are prepared to speak with … Parks Canada to configure a solution that would hopefully result in existing CN employees remaining eligible residents of Jasper, regardless of whether or not the terminal is moved to Hinton,” Ireland told his council colleagues at the June 3 regular council meeting.
Furthermore, an employee letter from management—submitted in confidence to The Jasper Local—suggests that CN believes the terminal relocation will not affect Jasper-based employees’ relationship to the national park.
“Following the relocation of the crew change terminal to Hinton, the only change to your duties will be the location at which you report and you board and disembark the train,” the letter states.
“The relocation will not affect the nature, extent, or duties of your work. CN considers that your primary employment remains within Jasper National Park, and you will continue to perform work duties in Jasper as you have done and as you do currently.
“For these reasons, our view is that the move of our crew change terminal to Hinton does not affect any applicable employee’s residency status in Jasper.”
The letter is signed by Ms. James, VP of Transportation, Western Region. James is urging employees whose residency eligibility is challenged by Parks Canada reach out to her team immediately.
Still, CN did not confirm whether Parks Canada will agree with the company’s interpretation of the clause.
“We will be declining to comment at this time,” a media spokesperson said on June 9.
A request for comment has been submitted to Parks Canada but has not yet been responded to.
Approximately 200 Jasper residents work as transportation employees (engineers and conductors), according to a CN employee roster obtained by The Jasper Local.
Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
