Municipal Affairs - Provincial Policy

Pressure on affordable housing across Alberta and Canada is growing. It is neither feasible nor sustainable for governments to address the issue on their own. P3 (Public-Private Partnership) models show the greatest potential to address the magnitude of the issue while creating a sustainable program. More affordable housing units can be rapidly brought on stream by activating the private development sector to meet demand.

Finance & Taxation - Federal Policy

The Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) was a two-year, $500 million national infrastructure program to revitalize communities across Canada, providing the opportunity to incentivize and transform community infrastructure, including downtown areas, main streets and community spaces across Canada. Applications significantly exceeded the funding allocated, with no additional grants available.

Finance & Taxation - Provincial Policy

Alberta and Quebec are the only two remaining jurisdictions in Canada that have not consolidated their corporate income tax administration with the federal government. The duplication of filing requirements imposes an additional tax compliance burden through two returns and creates unnecessary compliance risks for Alberta businesses. From a tax compliance perspective, this continued duplication of functions, including reporting, auditing and returns, is a source of frustration and red tape.

Finance & Taxation - Federal Policy

The availability of affordable residential real estate has become a concern in many local communities and is now a priority for both our provincial and national governments. Likewise, small business owners rely on the availability of commercial real estate, which has increased in value in many of our communities. An opportunity exists for the federal government to support private corporation investment in both commercial and residential real estate rental projects. However, the opposite has happened. The Income Tax Act

Finance & Taxation - Provincial Policy

The Government of Alberta regulates the Alberta Registry Agents’ (ARAs) Regulation by capping the fee amounts for most of the services they provide. In addition, Registry Agents are eager to develop a modernization plan to enhance services, including online registry services to Albertans in conjunction with Service Alberta and other stakeholders. The Government of Alberta should support these modernization efforts and review regulations to ensure Alberta Registry Agents can continue their vital work effectively.

Finance & Taxation - Municipal Policy

Since 2013 non-residential property assessment values have fluctuated, resulting in sudden, unexpected and significant increases to resulting tax liabilities for some property owners.

Finance & Taxation - Provincial Policy

Non- residential property assessment values have often fluctuated, resulting in sudden, unexpected and significant increases of tax liabilities for some property owners. While changes are not uncommon, the lack of transparency, fairness, and predictability of non-residential property assessments impacts the ability of business to operate with a clear understanding of the value of their property and the expenses it incurs.

Finance & Taxation - Provincial Policy

Since corporate income tax represents a very large percentage of pre-tax income, decisionmakers are highly sensitive to corporate income tax rates. It is in Alberta’s best interests to reduce and keep corporate income taxes low to attract business to Alberta and retain them in our province.

Finance & Taxation - Federal Policy

In a global economy where technology and innovation are increasingly important, Canada trails most of its peer countries in innovation and research. The Government of Canada needs to act quickly to address this, particularly by restoring faith in and simplifying a tax credit regime that nurtures private sector investment across all industries in R & D and technology.

Finance & Taxation - Provincial + Federal Policy

There is a relationship between the size of government and economic growth. While government spending is needed, there are studies that have shown that when government grows beyond a certain size it can hinder economic growth and lead to lower living standards for citizens.

Finances & Taxation - Municipal Policy

The City of Medicine Hat’s tax rate stabilization reserve will be depleted by the end of 2016 and will need to shift from its dependency on cyclical and volatile commodity markets to a more stable and predictable financial environment.

Finance & Taxation - Municipal Policy

Non-residential properties continue to pay a greater proportion of property taxes than residential rate payers, even though it is not clear that they use a greater proportion of the benefits received from property tax revenues.