Jasper applies for $73M through Alberta's Disaster Recovery Program
The Municipality of Jasper has submitted an application for $73.14 million in expenditures to the provincial Disaster Recovery Program (DPR).
Council authorized the director of recovery, Michael Fark, to make expenditures within the approved amounts during its Tuesday (Oct. 1) meeting.
“This will enable timely and flexible responses to emerging recovery needs without the delays associated with seeking council approval for every expenditure,” administration stated in its report.
CAO Bill Given told council the Emergency Advisory Committee had made this recommendation while approving the DPR submission. The directory of recovery previously had more flexibility to spend when Jasper was under a state of local emergency, but it was lifted on Sept. 15.
Activities covered under the submission include $22.7 million in evacuation costs, $10.2 million for structural protection, $4.09 million for waste management and $23.3 million for uninsurable infrastructure damage.
- Feds introduce legislation to transfer development and planning authority to Jasper
- 'Everything is going to be OK': First day of classes signals return to normal for young Jasperites
- 'We have not hit the bottom yet:' Jasper council asks province for budget funding
There would also be $12.5 million for recovery costs that include the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre, rebuild development planning and contract firefighters.
The Alberta government, which previously pledged up to $149 million for Jasper’s recovery, will cover 90 per cent of the cost, but the municipality is expected to contribute 10 per cent. Administration has told council this contribution should be a subject of advocacy to the provincial and federal governments.
Coun. Scott Wilson asked why the uninsurable infrastructure damage item required $20 million for buildings, with the remaining $3 million for other expenses.
Given said the $20 million was a contingency specifically related to any responsibility that the municipality or the incident team may have related to insurable loss on private properties in the commercial area.
“It is a holding amount to recognize that there may be claims made against the municipality of actions we took or did not take, and we wanted to ensure that that is recognized as we go forward,” Given said.
Coun. Wendy Hall asked for clarification about the $22.7 million in evacuation costs. Given said these costs were related to the housing and meals for evacuees in Grande Prairie, Edmonton and Calgary.
Administration submitted a preliminary application in early August but recently submitted a more detailed one. According to Given, the provincial government has so far approved the initial application of $47 million.
Council also directed administration bring forward updates to the municipality's fiscal controls and financial reporting policy to provide differential spending authority for the director of recovery.
“Obviously, his area is going to move very differently from the rest of the municipal operation, and his expenditures are going to be directly linked to the DRP application in a way that the rest of the organization’s expenditures won't be,” Given said.
Coun. Helen Kelleher-Empey asked how often council would get a report back on financial events.
Given replied that this was a reasonable expectation and would discuss with staff what a reporting timeline would look like. He suggested it would likely be quarterly.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Israeli military announces its first combat death since incursions in Lebanon began
Israeli strikes killed at least 51 people in southern Gaza overnight, including women and children, as the military launched ground operations in the hard-hit city of Khan Younis, Palestinian medical officials said Wednesday.
Fact-checking the CBS News U.S. vice-presidential debate between Vance and Walz
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio are facing off Tuesday night in New York City for their first – and only – U.S. vice-presidential debate. Here is a live fact check of everything being said between the two.
Emily Carr painting purchased for $50 at U.S. barn sale heading to auction
When New York-based art dealer Allen Treibitz went to a barn sale in the Hamptons a few months ago, a painting hanging in the old structure immediately caught his eye.
Buffalo Bills' Von Miller suspended by NFL for 4 games for violating personal conduct policy
Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller was suspended four games by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Ontario man shocked when engine not covered under warranty due to 'over revving'
A Pickering, Ont., student going to college to be a mechanic is shocked the engine in his two-year-old car will not be repaired under warranty after the dealership claimed he had been 'over-revving' the engine.
Did you feel it? Small earthquake hits northwest of Montreal
Some residents felt a slight tremor as a minor earthquake hit Quebec on Wednesday morning about 60 kilometres northwest of Montreal.
Lack of ambition in Canada creating '600-pound beaver in the room': Shopify president
The president of e-commerce giant Shopify Inc. wants Canada to address a problem he calls "the 600-pound beaver in the room."
'It's ridiculous': Kelowna father furious after violent attack on his 13-year-old daughter
A father in Kelowna is furious after his 13-year-old daughter was brutally beaten on Gyro Beach. He is calling for criminal charges in the devastating attack, which was caught on video by multiple bystanders.
W5 Investigates Travelling along the world's most dangerous land route for migrants
In a five-part series this week on CTVNews.ca and CTV National News at 11, W5's Avery Haines follows the harrowing journeys of migrants who risk their lives crossing the Darien Gap and ride atop Mexico's notorious 'Train of Death'. In this third installment, Haines travels across the Mexico-U.S. border.