The Waskesiu Community Council is continuing to explore the possibility of securing municipal status for Waskesiu within the context of the National Parks Act. Both Banff and Jasper have secured such status. The Council and Parks Canada are working to determine the benefits and pitfalls such an arrangement may have for Waskesiu. Talks are very much in the exploratory stage in order to secure good information for the community to consider.
What is meant by municipal status?
Generally, in Canada, we have a decentralized form of government. Usually, municipal governments are responsible for the delivery of services such as streets and roads, sidewalks, animal control, land use and development, fire protection, police protection, garbage collection, snow removal, sewer and water, recreation, and sundry others.
In Saskatchewan, about 1,000 municipal governments provide services to their residents. Elected councils make decisions about the nature and scope of these services and levy taxes and fees to support them.
Municipal status within a National Park would take on many of those features. However, in the agreements in Banff and Jasper, there have been notable exceptions. For example, Parks Canada has retained control over land use, development and the environment.
At this stage, it has not been determined what a “municipal” Waskesiu might govern. That is subject to negotiations with Parks Canada and approval of residents, if the process gets that far.
Why is the Council considering this?
Currently, the elected council is advisory to Parks Canada. While a good working relationship exists, the Council has no financial capacity to deal with issues and concerns identified by residents. Parks Canada has seen its budgets reduced and is unable to respond to pressing needs, such as improved streets and roads, maintenance of facilities such as the Community Hall, among other things. Council often hears the comment that our infrastructure is deteriorating but it has no ability to respond.
Parks Canada has indicated that they are not optimistic that more funding will be available in any significant amount to address our pressing needs in spite of the 2005 capital budget announcements. Parks Canada believes it will take 10 to 15 years to address national infrastructure deficiencies. The current town site subsidy is not being increased and, with increasing costs, it is impossible to do anything but minor patchwork in the town site.
In addition, our community has a very limited recreation program for youth, with activities coming and going depending on the goodwill of volunteers. The Chamber of Commerce has expressed a desire to get out of their limited recreational programming in the near term.
In a conversation with the Mayor of Jasper, having the ability to identify local priorities and fund them is the primary benefit of obtaining municipal status. They have been able to proceed with major projects at reduced cost through their municipal government.
In a meeting with representatives of Waskesiu’s major stakeholders held November 2003, Council was told that more local control would be a desirable goal to pursue.
Parks Canada has facilitated a movement in this direction. Together with the Council, they are exploring options. As well, Parks has made available relevant information leading to the Jasper decision, which has been very helpful in identifying issues to be considered. Running town sites is not a mainstream Parks activity and it might be done more efficiently by a local government.
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What has Council Done to Date?
- Council has conducted several activities to gather information about the desirability of moving ahead with this initiative, including the following:
- Establishing a Committee of the Whole, with Herve Langlois as chair, to explore the municipal status issue.
- A meeting with Parks Canada officials and the Department of Justice lawyer who dealt with the Jasper issue to begin identifying the major issues to be considered. This included an examination of Saskatchewan legislation.
- A meeting with Saskatchewan municipal affairs officials to determine if the province would consider amending legislation to accommodate Waskesiu municipal status. The province has stated it is prepared to work with us to that end, provided the community supports the initiative.
- A meeting with an official of Saskatchewan Learning to discuss the issue of property taxes for education purposes. Currently, Parks Canada pays tuition fees for pupils attending provincial schools. This arrangement is expected to continue. Initial correspondence from the province indicates that education taxes on properties in the PANP are not currently under consideration.
- A three-hour conference call with the Mayor of Jasper to discuss the merits of attaining municipal status and to identify concerns. This was a very beneficial consultation.
- A review of documents and the Banff and Jasper agreements.
- A meeting in February with Jasper’s Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and senior municipal officials and a meeting with Jasper’s Park Superintendent and town site manager.
- Obtaining funding from Parks Canada to cover expenditures related to exploring municipal status for Waskesiu.
All of this work is being conducted to secure the best possible information that would allow Council to put forward a proposal for the community to consider. During this process, it is possible that Council could identify one or more “deal breaking” issues that could result in abandoning the initiative.
What are the financial implications for residents and businesses?
Council is in no position to project financial impact at this stage. This is a very important part of the consideration. However, given the pressing needs in the town site, residents and businesses can expect some increase in levies, irrespective of the municipal status issue.
Council expects to provide a financial impact analysis as part of its information package.
When is Council proposing to discuss this with the community?
To date, Council’s exploration of the issue has been focused on determining the feasibility of moving in this direction. Council concluded there would be no point in beginning a dialogue with the community if there were no possibility of obtaining municipal status.
Consequently, as noted above, discussions were held with provincial government, Parks Canada officials, and the Mayor of Jasper to determine if insurmountable roadblocks existed. These discussions are ongoing. The precise nature of the community consultation has not yet been established,
To be clear, Council would only proceed with a mandate from the community to do so.
Conclusion
Obviously, the “municipal status” issue is a major step that requires careful and thoughtful consideration at every step of the way. It is important to understand that moving in this direction is not a separation from Parks Canada. Waskesiu would still be within the National Parks Act. However, it would transfer some of the responsibility and authority to the elected representative of the local community.
Council is clearly of the view that we cannot sit by and watch our infrastructure deteriorate to the point that Saskatchewan’s premier resort community would no longer be appealing to residents and visitors. Further, municipal government in the Waskesiu town site would provide local control by elected representatives and our own employees thereby avoiding unpopular decisions from Ottawa. This would provide some predictability to the future operation of our town site.
The history of this community is one of action when action is required. When proposals were made to eliminate cabins, the community stood firm and said “NO”. When our urban forest was threatened by the spruce budworm, the community rallied and found a solution. We note the excellent job the Waskesiu Lobstick Board has done in managing the golf course.
The Waskesiu governance issue will require the same thoughtful leadership from the Council as well as an informed electorate to give future proposals due consideration. After all, this is our future!
For information, contact: Herve Langlois, chair of the Future governance Committee;
Don Ravis, Chair of the Council or any other Council member.
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