What We Heard Report – Now Available!

Thank you for your interest in Land Use Planning and Development in the Town of Jasper. Public and Indigenous consultations are now complete. We heard from residents, business-owners, stakeholders, Indigenous partners, and the general public. The results have been compiled into the following four key themes:

1. Improving Land Use Planning Service Delivery
2. Presenting a Simple Governance Model
3. Updating the Community Vision
4. Balancing Tourism-Based Development and Local Services

Curious to learn more? Check out the full text of the What We Heard Report here.

About the Consultations

Parks Canada is seeking feedback on how land use planning and development services are delivered within the Town of Jasper boundaries.

The Town of Jasper is located within Jasper National Park, which is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. In 2022, The Municipality of Jasper requested that Parks Canada consider expanding the services delivered by the Municipality within the town boundaries to include some responsibility for land use planning and development. Currently, in Jasper National Park, including within the Town of Jasper boundaries, these services are delivered by Parks Canada under the Canada National Parks Act. Some of these responsibilities include community planning, zoning, permit approvals, subdivision of land approvals, variances, review and appeals, compliance and enforcement, and fees.

In the park community and specialized municipality of Jasper, there is a unique opportunity to explore an alternative service delivery model by sharing land use planning responsibilities with the local municipal government. Since it was incorporated in 2001, the Municipality of Jasper has been delivering a range of services to the community in accordance with the Municipal Government Act of Alberta; except for authorities related to land use planning and development, annexation and the environment.

Following a request from the Municipality, Parks Canada is seeking public input on expanding those areas of service currently delivered by the Municipality. Discussions include how Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper could work together in sharing responsibility for community planning, the issuance of permits including their fees, and related topics. The goal is to improve service delivery while ensuring that maintaining or restoring ecological integrity remains the first priority in park management.

No changes are being considered to development limits in the Canada National Parks Act such as the commercial floor area allocations, commercial zoning, or the town boundary. Any changes to how land use planning and development services may be delivered in the future will only apply within the boundaries of the Town of Jasper.

Parks Canada has responsibility to enhance the preservation, protection, and presentation of the park for present and future generations and will continue to have a role as the regulator in managing land use within the park community. These consultations will inform next steps as to whether a new operating model should be developed where both the Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada work together in land use planning.

How to Get Involved

The public consultations period will close at end of day on April 19, 2023

You can get involved by:

1. Completing the Survey below.
2. Sharing your views on the Ideas Board below.
3. Use the Map tool below if you have an idea or comment that relates directly to an area within the Town of Jasper.
4. Sending your thoughts or requesting a video conference with the project team: Daniel.Mercer@pc.gc.ca
5. Participating in the in-person Information Session:

March 16th at the Forest Park Hotel

1:30 pm to 3:30pm MST or 6:00pm to 8:00 pm MST

(Registration opens 30 minutes before each session)

Any and all comments submitted to Parks Canada will considered anonymous.