The Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada may have met locally to discuss the future of affordable housing in Jasper, but the next stage of the process may rely on outside contributions.

After the municipality’s initial proposal, sent to Parks national office in Gatineau, Quebec, was returned with a request that local officials collaborate on a joint submission, administrators from both sides had a substantial meeting during the final days in May. While progress was made, Parks spokesperson Amber Pastoor characterized the discussion as preliminary, noting that it was the first time in several months that the matter had been discussed at the local level.

The primary concern for both parties revolves around creating a proposal that will meet the requirements of the federal Treasury Board, the regulatory body that must sign off on any land release arrangment reached by Parks Canada. The release fees for whatever land may eventually be used to provide affordable housing in Jasper would likely be reduced, as a rent control or subsidy system would likely be in place for the properties to be developed. To what extent this significant cost would be reduced is at the heart of discussions between Parks and the town at this point.

As officials try to synchronize their calendars to provide for a follow-up meeting later this month, the municipality may soon have some extra cash to put towards the effort to obtain afforable housing for the community. While attending the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference in Montreal earlier in June, municipal manager George Krefting learned of a new grant program designed to provide support for communities seeking affordable housing options. The lucrative grant is supplied by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation and was announced on May 31.

Called “Seed Money”, the program is accepting applications for the rest of the calendar year, and Krefting confirmed that Jasper will be making an application. The program provides an up-front grant of $10,000 and as much as $20,000 in total, depending on the scope and progress of the project and proposal. A further $10,000 interest free loan may become available down the line.

On Parks Canada’s end of the discussion, the federal agency hopes to provide some national-level expertise in time for the next meeting between the two groups. Pastoor told the Fitzhugh that, provided a meeting can be scheduled for later in June, John Low, Parks’ national land management chief, would be brought in from Ottawa to attend the session. Low would be able to provide further insight into the requirements and particulars of a successful application before Parks and the municipality send anything on to be considered by the Treasury Board.