The Municipality of Jasper, along with the towns of Banff and Canmore, has applied for a provincial grant to undertake a research project that would explore the cost differences between running a tourism-based municipality and a traditional town.
If the joint application is approved by the province’s Regional Collaboration Program, a consultant will be hired to undertake the research, and once a report is completed, the municipalities will use it to lobby the provincial government for resort municipality status.
Currently, tourism-based communities like Jasper, Banff and Canmore are treated like any other municipality in Alberta, while in British Columbia, a community like Whistler receives a portion of the provincial hotel tax, as recognition that it’s in a unique position compared to other municipalities.
That unique position includes providing infrastructure for a huge volume of visitors that well exceeds the number of residents—and taxpayers—that live within the community.
The municipality has been working on this with Banff and Canmore, as well as the province, for quite some time now, and following a meeting with the mayors of all three communities and the Minister of Municipal Affairs earlier this month, it was decided that a study needs to be completed.
“There is general consensus that the cost of running a tourist economy is rather different and more expensive than running a traditional 12-month a year town,” Peter Waterworth, chief administrative officer, said during a special council meeting to discuss the grant application, Nov. 26. “But that has never been costed out.
“We need to put a number, some underpinning to that.”
Waterworth said he doesn’t know when the municipality will hear back from the province about the grant application, but noted if it isn’t approved, there is currently no money allocated in the budget for such a study.
“In the absence of the grant, there will not be a project. This needs to be funded,” he said, noting that the grant could be as much as $250,000.
In response, Coun. Gilbert Wall said, in the future, whether the grant is approved or not, the municipality will need to complete the study.
“If we’re going through this process, the method we use to get to those numbers is not important. We will need these numbers in the future whether we get them through this route or another.”
Waterworth agreed, but reiterated that there isn’t yet any money earmarked for such research.
“In principle, I hear what you’re saying.
“That may be council’s position at some point, but as of now, we have no alternative budget proposals that impact on this.”
In order for the the municipality to submit the grant application—which was due Nov. 30—all three councils had to approve an identical motion last week.
Jasper’s council unanimously supported the motion, Nov. 26. Mayor Richard Ireland was absent from the meeting.
Jasper, Banff and Canmore participated in a similar study in 2010. That study, commissioned by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, defined what it means to be a tourism-based community and identified possible revenue sources to help sustain them.
Although completed, that study has not been released by the minister.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
