section4-03

Townsite Management

Cost Recovery and Administrative Efficiency of Townsites

Parks Canada is responsible for the recovery of costs for the provision of water, sewer and garbage services in the five park communities it administers. Recovered funds are shown in Table 32. Ninety-eight percent of operational costs have been recovered in each of the last three years, which is the maximum that can be recovered under the current regulations.

Table 32: Recovery of Costs For Provision of Utilities in Townsites

($ Thousands)	2006-2007	2005-2006	2004-2005
Operational Costs (recovered through utility fees)	2,600	2,500	2,200
Recovered for Recapitalization of Associated Facilities*	235	120	33
Source: Internal Parks Canada data * Water and sewage treatment plants

Other general municipal services provided by Parks Canada that are non-cost recovered include summer and winter road maintenance, fire protection, development review, enforcement and snow removal in the five park communities. In 2006-2007, Parks Canada’s general municipal operating costs for these services were $2.6 million. Targets for efficient administration of these services based on comparable municipal models were to have been established by March 2007, however, this exercise was terminated in 2006 when it became apparent that the targets would be redundant with those already established for performance expectations 21, 22 and 23.

During 2006-2007, a number of capital projects, totalling more than $3.2M, were also completed in the five park communities. These included recapitalization of the lagoon in Wasagaming, recapitalization of Waskesiu Drive in Waskesiu, recapitalization of the water distribution system and design of a lagoon in Waterton, and, in Field, the replacement of a fire truck.

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