Almost 15 years ago to the day Jasper residents made a choice that would forever change the direction of our tiny mountain community.
On July 19, 2001, Jasper residents voted in favour to establish local government, setting in motion the next steps towards local self-determination.
While a lot has been accomplished since then, full self-determination can only be achieved when the municipality has full control of land use and development within the town.
Currently Parks Canada retains control over Jasper's land use and development, from simple home renovations to building new housing, hurting the town鈥檚 ability to address our local needs.
In a recent interview with the CBC, Mayor Richard Ireland said the town is nearly reaching its limits with less than聽an acre of land remaining聽for commercial projects.
In response, he said a consultant is currently reviewing how development in town is governed and said he hopes the report will demonstrate the municipality has the capacity to take care of its own planning and development.
The report is expected to be completed by the end of July and the mayor said he hopes to work with Parks Canada to renegotiate the land use agreement.
By having control over land use and development the municipality will be able to generate additional revenue, something that it is in desperate need of.
As a tourism-based municipality, Jasper provides services, facilities and infrastructure to a far greater number of people than the number of people who actually pay municipal taxes.
For instance, last year 2.1 million visitors visited Jasper National Park, yet there are only 5,000 residents in town to support the services and infrastructure needed to sustain those visitors, placing an unfair financial burden on the town鈥檚 tax base.
In fact, over the past five years municipal taxes have increased by nearly 20 per cent to try and sustain the town鈥檚 aging sewers, roads and other critical infrastructure.
This is simply unsustainable.
Fortunately, the mayor and council are acutely aware of this problem, which is why they have also begun looking at other ways to generate revenue.
Over the past several months, Jasper, Banff and Canmore have been lobbying the province to be recognized as tourism-based communities, which could open the door to alternative sources of revenue.
Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but what it does highlight is the acute financial needs facing communities like Jasper.
Whether Parks Canada cedes its control over land use and development or the province recognizes Jasper鈥檚 unique situation, something has got to give, otherwise taxpayers should brace themselves for another substantial tax increase next year.
