Jasper wildfire: Alberta announces $112M for interim housing for displaced service workers

The Alberta government has announced $112 million in funding for interim housing to help rebuild Jasper after this summer’s devastating wildfire.

The interim housing, for which work on the sites has already begun, will be for certain displaced Jasper residents, as well as residents of the government-owned Pine Grove Senior Citizens Manor in Hinton.

Two-hundred-and-fifty modular homes will be built in Jasper for essential service workers and support-service workers, and other eligible Jasper residents who lost their homes and are employed in the area.

“When ready, these interim homes will address the immediate housing need in Jasper and provide a short-term housing option for those who are working in the town doing the critical work needed to support this rebuild,” said Alberta’s minister of seniors, community and social services, Jason Nixon.

The first residents are expected to be able to move in within three months – by January.

“The priority is to house workers employed in providing essential services,” said Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland.

Certain essential workers who have been living in hotels will move to modular homes, Ireland said, which will free up hotel rooms for tourists or other workers in the community who have lost their homes and remain living outside Jasper.

Roughly one-third of the town of Jasper — 358 structures — was destroyed in a fast-moving wall of flames in July.

Ireland called the funding a “veritable lifeline” and “deeply appreciative.”

“Housing is more than simply replacing housing, buildings and structures. It is inextricably linked to our social and economic recovery,” the mayor said.

“The support announced today reaffirms that we are not alone in our efforts. We are supported by a government that recognizes the importance of community.”

The modular homes are built off-site and installed using permanent foundations.

“We know that time is of the essence and winter weather is upon us, and we will ensure that these homes are placed as quickly and efficiently as possible by taking advantage of modular technology,” Nixon said. “These homes will provide an important foundation while rebuilding efforts continue.”

Nixon adds some or all of the modular units could remain in Jasper once the town is rebuilt, since there was already a housing need. Ireland says the town was 600 units short before the blaze.

Alternatively, the mobile structures can be moved elsewhere as needed, such as to remote First Nation communities, Nixon said.

“It gives us options to use them elsewhere,” the minister explained.

Either way, the province plans to sell them after fire-destroyed homes are rebuilt. Nixon says it’s possible the government makes its money back, or even turns a small profit.

In Hinton, some 25 units of modular housing will be built for seniors of Pine Grove Manor. The units will later be used as affordable housing for the community. Work will begin in January.

Will feds foot the bill?

Provincial taxpayers will cover the full $112 million – but Minister Nixon says Alberta wants Ottawa to pay for half.

Two weeks ago, Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis spoke at a federal committee meeting examining the fire and the response.

He argued that since the fire started in the national park, Ottawa should cover the entirety of the $149 million Alberta has spent on Jasper.

“It is their national park and it is our viewpoint that they should take 100 per cent of the cost, whether that happens or not we’ll have to wait and see,” Nixon said Monday.

MP Randy Boissonnault, Ottawa’s lead minister for Jasper, told CityNews Monday the federal government is considering funding up to 90 per cent of Alberta’s costs through its disaster assistance fund, but he made no commitment.

–With files from Sean Amato