This disconnect is already having real impacts on industry’s ability to protect jobs in Alberta. Oil and natural gas companies are going under, properties are being shut in or abandoned, and companies are pointing to high property tax costs as a cause.
Right now, the provincial government is considering changes to address this issue. The updates they are considering will modernize the framework, make assessments more closely reflect the value of real property, and make taxes more competitive with other provinces. These updates would help our oil and natural gas industry protect and create jobs.
As Alberta’s largest employer, our oil and natural gas industry understands the responsibility it has to Albertans to provide royalties and create tax revenues. It’s how we pay for our valued public services like schools, hospitals, and highways.
But if our economy is going to recover so our province can create jobs, and keep generating that vital tax revenue, we need a competitive environment for our energy industry. Modernizing our property tax system is critical to creating that environment.
This isn’t about a tax grab by municipalities or a tax break for oil and gas. It’s about creating a sustainable property tax framework that is fair and transparent, so our industry can be competitive and generate revenues for all levels of government well into the future. Most importantly, it’s how we can protect and create jobs.
Let the government know you support protecting jobs, and that you support municipal taxation reforms today by sending a letter to Premier Jason Kenney, Minister of Energy, Sonya Savage, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Kaycee Madu, as well as your local MLA. Once you submit the letter, follow up with a phone call to have an even bigger impact. It only takes a minute and your call could be the difference.