Nicolle Hodges | [email protected]
If the business community thinks it鈥檚 a benefit for their employees to have a place to live in exchange for Hostelling International to be exempt from paying property tax, let it be known.
Despite a detailed presentation by CEO of HI, Alistair McLean, last week, the municipal council remains unswayed.
In Alberta, HI hostels are specifically named in the Municipal Government Act as being exempt from local taxation unless the council passes a bylaw that says otherwise.
In Jasper, council passed such a bylaw last summer. That bylaw takes one year to come into effect.
The only change council could now make is to rescind the bylaw, but there was no motion to do so; not last week or this week.
鈥淪ometimes no answer is the answer,鈥� said councillor Paul Butler.
Council was in agreement, however, that this is an opportunity to aid Jasper鈥檚 unique housing crisis.
Mayor Richard Ireland once again put forward the question as to whether there is a community benefit that could be achieved by providing rooms for temporary workers that counterbalances the property tax HI wouldn鈥檛 be paying - an estimation of $90,000.
He wants to hear from the business community, specifically Tourism Jasper and the Chamber of Commerce.
Ireland said: 鈥淚f somebody comes to town as a jobseeker, I鈥檓 not interested unless they become a job holder. They need accommodation.鈥�
He suggested a potential program where, if somebody comes to Jasper, gets a job and a discounted rate for a room at HI, it鈥檚 their employer that confirms their working status, at which point HI could get a credit on the tax.
鈥淭hen we would be substituting a real housing benefit with quantifiable knowledge,鈥� he said.
Butler believes that while it is a unique opportunity, council needs to wade carefully into waters of tax exemption.
鈥淚鈥檓 nearly certain that if we intervene and reduce taxes for HI, we will be faced with more requests,鈥� he said.
Butler鈥檚 suggestion is that the hostel鈥檚 benefit for local employers should be considered in their tax assessment but not an exemption.
Ireland asked: 鈥淥f the seven of us, how many could have our minds changed?鈥�
No hands went up but leaning-words were spoken.
Councillor Bert Journault said: 鈥淭hey have a tremendous business advantage. I think they should be paying taxes.鈥�
McGrath said she was not inclined to have a change of mind by next week but liked the ideas Mayor Ireland presented.
鈥淚 see it in a more equitable way that a tax credit is available to everyone (offering accommodation) and not only HI,鈥� she said.
Councillor Helen Kelleher-Empey said everybody needs to pay their taxes.
鈥淚f businesses see an opportunity here, I think we should wait to hear from them,鈥� she said.
Next week, council will send a letter to the hostel outlining their decision to keep the bylaw as is until further notice.
