Jasper says housing plan promised by Alberta government after wildfire falls short
Global News
The province has promised $112 million to build 250 units but has tied the money to permanent single-family homes — which the town says would only result in 60 homes being built.
As more than 600 families find themselves without homes in fire-ravaged Jasper, the Rocky Mountain tourist town and the Alberta government are locked in a standoff over what to build for interim housing.
The province has promised $112 million to build 250 housing units for the town, which lost a third of all buildings in a devastating wildfire last summer.
The province, however, has tied that money to building permanent single-family homes, which would need to follow rules for parking and setbacks.
The town says those rules mean such a plan would only allow 60 homes to get built if all allotted space for interim housing was used. The town would like to see the permanent-housing requirement abandoned.
Michael Fark, Jasper’s director of recovery, says the numbers are critical given more than 600 families have applied for the housing.
“The realities on the ground — including limited land availability — mean that this (provincial government) approach would not be nearly enough to meet the community’s urgent housing needs and would significantly impact the ability to meet long-term housing challenges,” Fark said in a weekend statement on the municipality’s website.
Town councillors are set to receive an update on the rebuilding process during a meeting Tuesday, and Mayor Richard Ireland is scheduled to address the media afterward.
Ireland was not immediately available for comment, but in a statement over the weekend he called on the province to continue working with the town and Parks Canada to meet the needs of residents.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Premier Tim Houston weighed in on Halifax's bike lane discussion by saying the mayor was 'on the right track' when he tried to get council to pause construction on new lanes.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is calling on Israel and Iran to de-escalate tensions after the former launched strikes at Tehran late Thursday.
The government of Canada has upgraded its safety and security advisory for travellers visiting the Los Angeles area and some other U.S. cities due to ongoing demonstrations.
It could cost nearly $10 billion to build a transmission line that would connect Nova Scotia's proposed offshore wind farms with the rest of the country, Premier Tim Houston says.
Kendrick Lamar stepped onto Drake’s turf on Thursday, playing his first concert in Toronto since the rift between the music superstars went into hyperdrive last year.
A former Nova Scotia police detective says he believes the search for two missing children in Pictou County that has lasted more than a month is now a criminal investigation.
Through public documents, Global News has learned that in most cases, the executives received a 6.7-per cent increase including Interior Health CEO Susan Brown.
The Saskatchewan government has decided to roll back its countermeasures against the ongoing U.S. tariffs, opening up business to the United States.
The idea is one of five being put forward by an Alberta government-appointed committee tasked with studying potential tailings management options.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's office says he's continuing a 'law enforcement dialogue' with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was invited to join in next week's G7 meetings.
The report cites research showing how farmers could increase profits by improving local sales since there would be fewer intermediaries taking a cut.
Canada Post workers will soon be asked to cast their votes on whether to ratify the employer's final offer in the ongoing labour dispute, despite union opposition.
A Vaughan homeowner has been charged after firing a gun at suspects during an attempted break-in and car theft early Tuesday. Five of six suspects are in custody.