Last year’s wildfires in the Alberta town caused more than $1.2 billion in insured damages at the end of 2024. While that number is expected to rise, many home owners will exhaust how much they can claim for living expenses under their insurance policies before homes and businesses that burned down are rebuilt. (The Globe and Mail)

Talking point: As of July 7, only 56 of the 358 properties destroyed in the fires had received permits and approvals needed to move ahead with reconstruction, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Jasper’s rebuild has been complicated by the fact that it’s located in a national park, which restricts where construction can take place and requires strict soil testing before rebuilding begins. The testing adds substantial time and cost, and has created disputes over who would shoulder those fees. To speed up the process, Parks Canada and the Canadian Red Cross pledged up to $5 million last week for residents who need soil testing and removal.