Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Council examined a report outlining the unique costs incurred by tourism-based communities during its committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 24.
In late 2022, Jasper, Banff and Canmore engaged Verum Consulting to identify the costs these communities face to provide services for visitors and explore how these costs compare to other Alberta towns.
鈥淭he major finding of the report is that our three communities do, in fact, have above-average spending in categories that are directly related to supporting the visitor (population),鈥� CAO Bill Given told council.
More spending was evident when it came to public transit, bylaw enforcement, waste management, fire, public housing and wastewater treatment and disposal.
The 2021 average per capita expenditures of 33 comparable municipalities in Alberta was $3,044, compared to $5,359 for Banff, $4,463 for Jasper, and $4,126 for Canmore.
Banff, Jasper and Canmore spent $20.5 million, $6.5 million and $15 million, respectively, to support visitor populations in 2021.
For Jasper, 32 per cent of its expenditures supported visitors.
Out of the 33 communities, Jasper spent the most on fire service, wastewater treatment and disposal, family and community support, and parks and recreation.
Jasper ranked significantly lower in spending on transit and public housing compared to Banff and Canmore.
However, Given noted that council planned to spend more on transit and public housing in the near future.
鈥淚 would expect that Jasper鈥檚 place in those rankings will increase,鈥� he said.
The town has the second highest non-residential property taxes per business and the second lowest residential property taxes per capita and the lowest per dwelling.
Targeting the average residential property taxes per dwelling could generate another $1.1 million in additional revenue, but this would still not be enough to close the $6.5 million gap.
鈥淭his really indicates a need for recognition of this unique circumstance of being a tourism-based economy,鈥� Given said.
鈥淎nd as council has been doing, we should likely continue to advocate for increased recognition of this circumstance at the provincial and federal levels, particularly the provincial level as Mayor Ireland has been doing for the last while I think in collaboration with the mayors of Banff and Canmore.鈥�
Mayor Richard Ireland said the information in this report would be used to make the case for designation of tourism-based communities and program funding.
鈥淚t does speak to the challenges of operating in a visitor economy and the stress that puts on the workforce, and it鈥檚 important that we have those supports.鈥�
Regarding the high parks and recreation spending, Ireland explained that municipal facilities helped drive visitation, particularly during shoulder seasons.
鈥淵es, the spending is high, but it drives visitation and therefore keeps the economy, our business sector operating.鈥�
Coun. Rico Damota noted how other areas of Alberta face similar issues, such as in Fort McMurray where many workers fly in rather than live in town.
鈥淚 think we can find champions in other areas within the province too that we can lean on that have similar things,鈥� Damota said.
Committee received the report as information and directed administration to provide copies of the report to MP Gerald Soroka, MLA Martin Long, Tourism Jasper and the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce.
