“The people of Jasper have shown tremendous resilience, and the efforts of emergency response and local government officials have been nothing short of remarkable as the community begins the process of recovery.”
Those were the words of Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) IBC Western and Pacific vice president Aaron Sutherland (pictured left) two months following the Jasper wildfire that destroyed a third of the town.
“Alberta’s insurers are here to help, working to assess damage, begin the claims process, and clear the way for rebuilding,” Sutherland declared.
Since the wildfire, which destroyed 358 out of a total of 1,113 structures, insurers have been on-site, offering financial assistance for temporary living costs, including hotel stays and evacuation expenses, for those displaced. A key effort involved coordinating the removal of over 2,300 fridges and freezers spoiled by extended power outages in the area.
In the next phase of recovery, insurers are leading a mass debris removal project for residential properties, which is essential for rebuilding. Government officials recently released guidelines for debris clearance and necessary permits, allowing insurers to issue requests for proposals to hire contractors for the cleanup.
Meanwhile, new legislation could further aid Jasper’s recovery. Last week, the federal government introduced Bill C-76, which proposes amending the Canada National Parks Act to transfer land-use planning and development authority from Parks Canada to the Municipality of Jasper.
“IBC commends the federal government for this critical step,” commented Craig Stewart (pictured right), IBC vice president for climate change and federal issues. “Our industry’s experience shows that clear, local decision-making is necessary if home and business owners are to rebuild quickly.
“We’re encouraged that all parties in the House of Commons appear to support this essential legislation – it should be passed as soon as possible.”
Stewart added: “At this point, a redevelopment and rebuilding process needs to be urgently established to prevent delays in reconstruction and recovery efforts.”
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