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Public Input Sought On How Parks Canada And Jasper Can Work Together

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By NPT Staff - March 13th, 2023
The night sky over the town of Jasper in Jasper National Park.

The night sky over the town of Jasper in Jasper National Park/Parks Canada, Ryan Bray

Parks Canada is inviting input on sharing responsibility with the Municipality of Jasper for the delivery of land use planning and development services, and whether a new model should be explored. This includes determining who should carry out what land use planning and development responsibilities within the Town of Jasper, and how the municipality and Parks Canada could work together in the delivery of these services.

The municipality, located in Alberta’s Jasper National Park, has requested that the services it delivers within the town boundaries be expanded to include responsibility for land use planning and development. Parks Canada is currently responsible for administering and delivering these services to residents and businesses, while ensuring the park is protected for present and future generations.

Between March 6 and Apr. 3, people can provide feedback directly to Parks Canada either online or at two public information sessions in Jasper at the Forest Park Hotel on March 16.

During the facilitated events, people can provide their opinions on potential impacts within the national park’s community on topics that include:

• Parks Canada’s responsibility to manage commercial development.

• How to ensure that ecological integrity remains the first priority.

• Planning approvals.

• Community planning.

• How to protect Jasper’s unique town character.

Boating on Maligne Lake in Alberta's Jasper National Park.

Boating on Maligne Lake in Alberta's Jasper National Park/Parks Canada, Ryan Bray

After these consultations, a “What We Heard Report” will be published that summarizes the feedback received and outlines the next steps.

Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and the world’s largest dark sky preserve. It is also one of seven parks that make up a UNSECO World Heritage Site, protecting Canada’s rocky mountain landscape.

It welcomes about 2.5 million visitors each year, making it is one of the premier destinations in the Parks Canada network and boasting a strong reputation for iconic camping and hiking experiences on the international stage.

The Municipality of Jasper was set up in 2001 through an Establishment Agreement to deliver community services such as infrastructure, utilities, social services, taxes and bylaw enforcement. Parks Canada remains responsible for land use planning and development, annexation and the environment.

Parks Canada will always have a role to play as the regulator in managing development for the entire park. This includes continued oversight of land use planning within the park community in any future service delivery model. The maximum allocation of commercial floor area, commercial zoning and the town boundary — all of which are protected in the Canada National Parks Act — won’t change.

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