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“All we were really hoping (for was that) he would listen to front-line experts, which I believe we are,” said Clyne, who has rappelled for eight seasons. “Historically, we have fought on all of Alberta’s biggest fires. We know how to find efficiencies, save some money. We just need the minister to look. I’m really hoping he abandons his ego a little bit and manages to listen to some real experts.”

The Alberta government also announced last year it would be using only 100 of its 126 lookout towers moving forward, resulting in 26 seasonal jobs being cut.

The UCP claimed the overall changes to wildfire management would save $23 million. However, documents obtained by Postmedia show government staff scrambling to justify cutting the RAP program.

Dreeshen said last year that less than two per cent of firefighters rappelled into wildfires across the province.

Former Agriculture and Forestry press secretary Adrienne South, in a Nov. 7 email, asked for clarification after Dreeshen used that figure publically the day prior.

This request for clarification was later echoed by Christie Tucker, information unit lead for wildfires with the ministry.

Assistant deputy minister, forestry division, Bruce Mayer responded on Nov. 8, raising issues with conflicting numbers.

“The first table showed how many total provincial fires had rappel action, a different story,” he said in his email. “Your revision changes the story. In 2018, rappel actioned (went to) 100 fires, of which they rappel into 23 percent [sic] of them. Different story altogether. I need to think on how this gets messaged back, as what has been reported to date is wrong.”