The Community
Press Telling Your Story
Volume 115, Issue 1
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
$1 Including GST
Hello, Canada!
Canada Day events were celebrated all over the county this past weekend. This young man enjoyed a horse ride at the Gymkhana event in Alliance this past Friday. More coverage inside.
Flagstaff County receives provincial credit of $711,673 to cover education requisition on delinquent oil and gas taxes Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Flagstaff County recently received approval of its Provincial Education Requisition Credit (PERC) and Designated Industrial Requisition Credit (DIRC) that included delinquent oil and gas taxes on four properties dating back as far as 2018. During its June 22 regular meeting, Council received notification from the Province that a credit of $711,673 was applied to the June 2022 Alberta School Foundation Fund requisition. Each year the Province requisitions municipalities directly for Education, and municipalities are required to add this to property tax rolls. The Province required the full ed-
ucation requisition to be paid whether or not the taxes were paid. Up until the PERC and DIRC programs were brought forward by the Province, municipalities had no remedy for recovering the education amount payable on delinquent accounts. Earlier in the year, at a Jan. 12 Council Meeting, Council heard from CAO Shelly Armstrong that municipalities can now apply for a credit on the education requisition of unpaid taxes without having to write them off altogether. Instead they can be designated as uncollectable bad debt. When PERC was first introduced, municipalities were required to write-off the tax roll altogether to
apply. Armstrong told Council that the PERC program was scheduled to expire after the 2021 tax year intake, but has been extended for two more years by the Province, with an injection of $30 million for the 2021/22 intake, and a further $15 for each of the following two years. Under the program, municipalities can apply retroactively as far back as 2015. Under the new DIRC program, even tax categories that are determined using rates set by the province, Designated Industrial, are also eligible to have the education requisition portion credited back. January’s application included four delinquent accounts, totalling well over $5.5 million dollars in un-
paid taxes from 2018 to 2021 that included an education requisition portion totalling $706,718.20. While the taxes have not been collected, the county had already paid the education requisition on the accounts to the Province. Armstrong advised Council in January that the application would also include requests for PERC and DIRC credits on tax accounts that have been written off by Council in 2021. If at any point Flagstaff County is able to recover any or all of the bad debt owed to it on any of the ‘uncollectable bad debt’ tax rolls included in the PERC and DIRC application, it will be required to repay the education portion back to the Province.
Page 2 - The Community Press, Wednesday, July 6, 2022
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HARDISTY
JULY 15, 16, 17 Friday, July 15
7am Pancake Breakfast 11 am Beef on a Bun Elks Hall 5pm Slack 7pm Chucks & Chariots 9pm Outdoor Dance
Saturday, July 16 10:30 am Parade 1pm Rodeo 5pm Chariots & Chucks 9pm Outdoor Dance
DIAMOND SPONSORS
RAIN OUT CALL 780-888-1441 Combine Entries - Call Alvin at 780-806-1258 Wild Horse Race & Wild Cow Milking Entries or Any Questions Regarding the Weekend - Call or Text Marge 780-888-1424 Wild Pony Race & Mutton Busting enter weekend-of at Rodeo Office
GOLD SPONSORS
Sunday, July 17 1pm Rodeo 5pm Chariots & Chucks 7pm Combine Crunch
ADMISSION
50/50 Rules - Draws Saturday & Sunday
Weekend Pass $35. Fri $10, Sat $15, Sun $15 12 years and under FREE *No dogs allowed on Rodeo Grounds* Military Personnel - No Charge (with ID) Camping - Power $50. No Power $20 (gate will open Thursday ursday y at noon) n
If Saturday’s Number is not claimed within 30 minutes, pot will carry over and be added to Sunday’s pot. Sunday’s pot must be claimed within 15 miniutes, or a new number will be drawn every 15 minutes until prize is claimed.
STREET FAIR
• Drever Agencies • Rolin Acres • Gratton Coulee Agri Parts • Wild Rose Co-op • Comrades Parts & Accessories • Gibsons • Nutrien •Voltage Electric • Chad & Leslie Burland • Desert Canary Industries • Isaman Chopek LLP • BD Pipe Services • Rustic Stars • Hardisty Home Hardware • Amrstrong's Rockin Ranch • Alberta Ag Centre
FRIDAY, JULY 15
l Eating i Contest 1pm • Fishing ih hii Hole l • Watermelon • Stilt Walker • Juggler • Hardisty Dance by Danceology 11am • In-Store Specials at Stores • Money Pit • Face Painting • Man Van • Basketball • Hockey Slapshot Game • MJ's Pet Contest 12pm (enter at Rustic Stars by July 12)
10AM - 3PM VENDORS
•Tupperware •Sunset Gourmet •Wood Working •Arrow Mountain Boutique •Rebel Ridge Soap •Tree Corral •Voxx Sox •Pork & Pickle •Thom's Mini Donuts •Johnny K Meats & Birthe's Bites •Epicure •Homemade Crafts •Korean BBQ •Like It Never Was Antiques •Hero's food Truck •Ranch Raised Clothing •Esther's Baking •DJ's Artisan Dog Treats •Applebox Treats
FRIDAY, JULY 15 10am - 3pm Main Street Hardisty Motorcycles otorcycles o t y es Welcome. Wel Contact C Go Gordon for more info 780-721-5181
The Community Press, Wednesday, July 6, 2022 - Page 3
Lougheed Ground beef exempt from new labelling Field House Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Alberta Beef Producers got some good news recently when Health Canada confirmed that packages of ground beef would not be subject to proposed regulations requiring it to be labelled as “high in saturated fat.” Even though other single ingredient foods such as whole meat, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruit were exempt, the program was going to be applied to ground beef. Alberta Beef Producers and the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Associations lobbied Health Canada to exempt ground beef from the proposed frontof-package regulations. The labelling is meant to help consumers identify prepared packaged foods that are high in saturated fat, sodium, or sugar. It’s part of the Government of Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy, and up until June 30, only whole meats were listed on the exemption list, leading producers to be concerned about ground beef. Alberta Beef Producers says, “Ground beef is an affordable, nutrition, and versatile protein, and a staple food for most Canadians. Almost 40 per cent of beef consumed by more than 90 per cent of Canadians is ground beef. “Alberta’s beef industry is a main economic driver, employing over 55,000 full time workers and contributing over $4 billion to the provincial GDP.” With around half of Canada’s beef destined for export, producers also had concerns about unnecessary trade implications, and a negative impact in already volatile international markets. They said Canada would have been the only jurisdiction in the world placing a health warning label on its ground beef. Both organizations
worked together to lobby against the proposed ground beef labels, asking for public support through an online advocacy campaign called “Don’t label my beef.” With Thursday’s announcement of the
change, they said, “The government of Canada’s decision to reverse its policy was a direct result of the movement we built to stand up for farmers and ranchers and support ground beef.”
Provincially, Nate Horner, Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Rural Economic Development says, "This is a big win for our livestock producers and all the groups that told Ottawa to re-think this policy."
UFA donates to Care-A-Van
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP PRICE REDUCTION Annual Memberships are now reduced to $175, for a membership from now until December 2022. It is now priced so that you receive the equivalent of 1 Free Month. Memberships are available for anyone aged 16 & up. With your membership, you receive 24/7 access to our fitness centre and to our turf (except when the turf is rented or booked).
lougheedfieldhouse.com this week’s ad is sponsored by
UFA delegate Brent Christensen for Camrose District donated $500 for the FIRST program operating the Care-A-Van. Accepting the cheque above is Lynne Jenkinson, Board member from FIRST. Looking on are Shelly Skoberg, team lead for sales and service at UFA, and Harold Haugen, UFA Board member.
Big 3 Day Sale Lougheed Agricultural Society
Royale Facial Tissue 6s
$449
St. Ive’s Body Wash
Rest of Week $4.99
650ml
99th ANNUAL FAIR
Vaseline Lotions
Selected types
Saturday, August 6
Rest of Week $6.99
• Pancake Breakfast 8-10 am (at Seniors Centre) •Parade 10 am (theme 99) •Horse Show • Cattle Show • Bench Exhibits • Ball •Children’s Entertainment • Food • Beer Gardens •Vendors • Show ‘N Shine • Supper at Hall (starts at 5pm) • Outdoor Dance (at Ball Grounds) Gate entry: y Adults $10. Students $5. 5&under Free. General Info: Iris Williams 780-385-0752 Baseball: John Snethun 780-385-5844 Parade Entries: Stacey Williams 780-385-4703 Car Show: John Routledge 780-386-2289
$599
$399
Flyer Prices in effect Friday, July 8 to Thursday, July 14
Tylenol
Planters Deluxe Mix or Cashews 200g Ext. Str. tabs/caps or Dry Roasted 40s - 200s Peanuts 600g selected types
$1399 $599 OFF Insect Repellent selected t ype s & size s
$799 .
780-385-3598 Serving Town & Country since 1962 Open Hours: 9-6 Mon thru Fri, 9-4 Saturday & Closed Sunday.
Killam, Alberta