The Municipality of Jasper will soon take over authority over land-use planning and development from Parks Canada after Bill C-76 received royal assent last week.
The legislation amends the Canada National Parks Act so the municipality can have the same level of land-use authority as the Town of Banff, allowing the local government body to manage planning and development processes within the townsite.
“This does not mean, though, that Jasper immediately becomes the development authority within the townsite,” CAO Bill Given told council on Tuesday (Oct. 8). “So, administration thought it was worthwhile to bring council an update on the required next steps so council and the community would be aware of what that process would look like.”
Given explained the governance agreement with Parks Canada will need to be updated, and the provincial cabinet will need to approve the updated agreement. Council must also adopt statutory documents such as a land-use bylaw and a municipal development plan.
“Administration has a strategy for how to do these things and how to do them rapidly, but there are a number of steps before we could totally flip the switch, so to speak,” Given said.
Conversations about transferring this authority have been ongoing for years but became a priority following the wildfires. This authority is expected to expedite the rebuild following the wildfire and allow for more input from community stakeholders.
It does not impact Parks Canada’s jurisdiction over Jasper National Park or allow the townsite to expand past its current footprint.
“Ultimately, being located within a national park means that the federal government will always have some level of authority,” Given said. “They absolutely will continue to [have input] as they always have had in Banff. It means, though, that the driver of those regulations, the creator of those regulations and the implementer of those regulations will be the municipality.”
The municipality has already appointed a director of urban design and standards as well as hired four planner positions. It is also working with Parks Canada to explore the idea of an online permitting system.
The cost of the four planners and the first year of implementing the online permitting system will be covered by the Disaster Recovery Program where the provincial government covers 90 per cent of the costs.
Given emphasized the transition would not cause delays or barriers for individuals wishing to submit development or redevelopment applications.
Parks Canada and the municipality are working to review and revise the development regulations for the townsite, which will serve as the basis for a land-use bylaw that will go to council early next year.
A formal transition of authorities is expected to occur in late spring 2025.