‘We have an emergency’: Jasper grows more desperate for homes amid government discussions

Construction equipment can be seen in Jasper in this undated photograph from Facebook. (Photo: Facebook/Municipality of Jasper) (Luuk Wijk)

Jasper’s mayor said the need for housing grows more urgent amid the back-and-forth between levels of government.

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Richard Ireland told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday there is land ready to go for homes, but no word yet on when housing will actually arrive.

In October, the Alberta government promised $112 million for interim housing in the town. It was originally expected to be available to rent this month.

Ireland said he’s also aware of federal plans for temporary housing for both residents and work crews tasked with rebuilding the town.

Parks Canada reports on its website that four parcels of land are serviced and ready for homes to be built.

It said it has proposed a first step to the Alberta government “that will allow people to get into homes quickly,” saying “leases will be put in place to enable this.”

In addition, Park Canada said it is working to purchase housing units built by CorCan, a subsidiary of Corrections Canada, and is planning to install two camp facilities “in coming months.”

Yet, Ireland said, the housing emergency continues.

“We’re aware that the minister has announced that housing will start to appear this month on the ground in Jasper,” Ireland said. “We’re waiting for that.

“We recognize that right now the province is waiting for a response to a letter that (Premier Daielle Smith) sent to the prime minister before Christmas … Until we get some clarity on those issues, we’re not entirely sure what is going to happen on the ground here.”

Smith’s office confirmed Wednesday that Ottawa had not yet responded to that letter.

One of the hold-ups, Ireland explained, is that the provincial money promised hinges, in part, on moves the town can’t make on its own.

“The offer from the province is conditional on a number of factors, but primarily on attaining long-term leases, as we understand, and potentially an expansion of the town boundary,” he said.

The Town of Jasper’s boundaries are set in federal legislation, meaning it would take an act of parliament to change them.

Jason Nixon, minister of seniors, community and social services declined to answer questions about a current timeline for modular housing, Parks Canada’s proposal and if the province would consider moving ahead without a boundary expansion.

Instead, Nixon’s office pointed to remarks made by the minister at a press conference on Dec. 20.

“We have at times, from our perspective, we feel that we continue to see roadblocks from both the federal government and, frankly, at times, the municipality of Jasper,” Nixon said at that time.

“The challenges come down to the fact that the national park service, underneath the federal government’s leadership, has not answered the questions about the fact that the community of Jasper, the municipal district of Jasper, needs to be expanded to accommodate their housing needs – not just their housing needs associated with the fire.”

The mayor admits Jasper was experiencing a housing shortage before the fire, but called talk of expanding the town boundary “premature” and unlikely given the current state of the federal government.

“We are interested in an interim solution for the exacerbation of our housing problem caused by the fire,” he said, adding around 820 housing units were destroyed.

“Those other discussions, if they need to come, can come at a later time. Right now we have an emergency to deal with.”

In just over a month, Ireland said residents staying in hotels will need to vacate to make room for the visitors needed to revive the local economy.

“Those people in hotel rooms now will be out at the end of February. They will need a place to go,” he said. “Then there are others who have not yet even been able to return to the community, and we would like to get them back as soon as possible.”

CTV News Edmonton has reached out to Parks Canada and is awaiting a response.