Up to $15.2 million in rent relief
for affected businesses and the Municipality of Jasper allowing them to redirect financial
resources towards recovery and rebuilding efforts
JASPER,
AB, Oct. 10, 2024 /CNW/ - Residents and local
business owners of Jasper are
doing their best to get back on their feet in the face of the
devasting impacts from the wildfire that went through Jasper in July
2024. The Government of Canada is working hard to help the community
rebuild after the fire to restart economic activity and deal with
the costs they face.
Today, in his new role as Ministerial Lead to Jasper, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault,
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official
Languages and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, on behalf
of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and
Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced
rent relief for Parks Canada administered leases and licences in
Jasper National Park. This rent
forgiveness of up to $15.2 million
provides financial relief to business owners, tenants and residents
impacted by the wildfire.
The Government of Canada,
through Parks Canada, along with the Government of Alberta and the Municipality of Jasper, have been coordinating efforts from
the initial incident response to the subsequent recovery and
rebuilding efforts in Jasper. In
early August, Parks Canada announced a pause to all rent collection
from lessees and licensees in Jasper and began working towards providing
more formal rent relief measures. While most leases and licences
within the Town of Jasper have a
nominal annual rent, with no money formally exchanged with Parks
Canada, this rent relief will be of significant benefit to the
Municipality of Jasper and lessees
and licensees outside of the townsite allowing them to redirect
resources towards recovery or rebuilding efforts, rather than on
immediate financial obligations. In parallel, Parks Canada jointly
with the Municipality of Jasper
are working to ensure efficient processes that will lessen the
burdens and stresses related to the loss of residential homes and
commercial businesses.
Rent relief is another important step in delivering on the
Government of Canada's commitment
to support the community and local businesses in the National Park
as they rebuild over the coming years. In mid-September, the
Government introduced new legislation to enable the transfer of
land use planning and development authorities to the Municipality
of Jasper, aimed at giving the
town, businesses and residents greater control to shape the future
of Jasper, in partnership with
Parks Canada.
Quotes
"The Jasper wildfire has caused
hundreds of millions of dollars in direct property damage and
firefighting costs and will continue to have negative economic
effects on tourism revenues that are a major economic driver for
local businesses and residents. The rent relief will play a pivotal
role in maintaining cash flow for businesses affected by wildfire,
providing some financial relief as they navigate the operational
challenges due to damage, disruption and reduced visitation as
Jasper National Park recovers and
rebuilds."
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of
Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks
Canada
"Through Parks Canada, the federal government is working with
the Municipality of Jasper and all
Jasperites to ease the burden they face while rebuilding their
community. This rent relief will support lessees and licensees who
are experiencing financial hardship and unexpected costs to rebuild
or repair properties damaged by the wildfire."
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault
Minister of
Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages and Member
of Parliament for Edmonton Centre
"We understand the challenges faced by those holding leases and
licenses within Jasper National
Park, especially during this incredibly difficult period of
structural and economic loss and recovery. We are grateful to the
Government of Canada for
demonstrating their commitment to supporting our community by
providing rent relief to ease the financial burden. By continuing
to work effectively together, we can ensure that our local
businesses and residents have the supports they need to help in our
recovery process."
Richard
Ireland
Mayor, Municipality of Jasper
Quick Facts
- A 2001 Agreement for the Establishment of Local Government
in Jasper established the
Municipality of Jasper as
exercising municipal functions and providing community services
(utilities, social services, bylaw) in the townsite, and Parks
Canada as the custodial administrator of the land and issuer of
land use agreements (leases, licences of occupation, utility
agreements) to residents and corporate entities.
- Parks Canada administers 1419
leases, licences of occupation and other agreements for commercial,
residential, community and utility uses within Jasper National Park.
- Rent relief will be included for residents whose properties
burned down in the Edith Lake subdivision just outside the town,
whose rents are set by regulation and are not part of the nominal
annual rent agreement within the town itself.
- The Jasper National Park Rent and Fee Remission Order,
approved by Treasury Board, provides Parks Canada the authority to
remit up to $15.2 million in Parks
Canada administered rents and licence fees in Jasper National Park over the next three
years.
- The Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC) is the central
hub created for ensuring collaboration between all levels of
governments (federal, provincial and municipal), and is currently
working to ensure that processes related to rebuilding are
streamlined and efficient.
Related Document
- Backgrounder: An Act to amend the Canada National
Parks Act
Related Links
- Parks Canada website
- Jasper National Park Realty and Municipal Services
- Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC)
SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)