LOCAL GOVERNANCE REPORT BY FRED SUTTER

Background

The Waskesiu Community Council(WCC), with the support of the Parks Canada Agency(PCA), is examining the merits of establishing the Waskesiu townsite as a municipality under the Urban Municipalities Act of the Province of Saskatchewan.

Waskesiu is a legally defined townsite within Prince Albert National Park that is Saskatchewan’s premier resort community. Waskesiu has approximately 600 residences and businesses, of which about 580 can be classified as seasonal. Its yearround population is approximately 40, with summer peak in the thousands.

Currently, the Waskesiu townsite is operated by the Parks Canada Agency, with the assistance of an advisory council established under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The townsite’s existing budget of $438,000 supports traditional municipal services, but does not include all costs. In addition, Waskesiu operates garbage, and sewer and water utilities on a fee basis with budgets of $180,000 excluding debt retirement. The community’s share of the debt is about $948,000, with annual repayments of $91,300, and is capped under provisions within the MOU.

For several years, Parks Canada Agency has faced severe budgetary limitations resulting in a deterioration of Waskesiu’s infrastructure, particularly with respect to streets and roads, heritage properties and recreational services. Although PCA’s funding prospects have improved as a result of the last Federal budget, the demands on PCA’s national system make it unlikely that financial resources will be available to meet Waskesiu’s requirements.

In the recent past, the National Park communities of Jasper and Banff have been established as municipalities in Alberta. Their success has prompted Parks Canada to look more favorably upon other communities establishing municipalities, provided a sustainable model can be identified.

The Waskesiu Community Council has established a solid reputation in representing community interests to PCA; however, the council has no independent revenue sources to fund programs thereby limiting its ability to function effectively.

Purpose of the consultancy

This consultancy is designed to provide the WCC and PCA with the data necessary to make an informed decision regarding the desirability and feasibility of establishing Waskesiu as a municipality within Saskatchewan provincial statutes, while still remaining within the national park system.

This consultancy is one of several studies being undertaken to inform the decision. Others include a sample property tax assessment to determine the community’s tax base, as well as legal work to identify provincial and PCA legal requirements. Both WCC and PCA have done considerable preliminary work to determine if a thorough feasibility study should be undertaken.