The Community
Press
Firefighter Salute Inside! 2nd Section
Volume 113, Issue 17
Your LOCAL Paper
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Assessment review paused; new measures announced with less impact to municipal bottom lines Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard announced on Monday, Oct. 19, that her first act after being appointed as Minister was to hit pause on the assessment model review. She said she heard from municipalities from across the province that they would have to raise taxes or cut services to deal with the loss of revenue from each of the four proposed scenarios, saying that she’d landed in the middle of a complex and urgent issue. “Municipalities and the Oil and Gas industry have a strong relationship,” she said, “each need each other.” Allard said Monday that the assessment review will be on hold for three years while extensive consultation between all stakeholders takes place. In the interim, new tax measures were announced. In the first, no property tax will be charged on new wells and pipelines for three years; “To kickstart investment for our energy industry here in Alberta.” This change will be reflected in the 2020-21 assessed values and applied for taxation in 2022/23/24, Allard says. The second measure is to eliminate the well drilling equipment tax (WDET). “Eliminating this tax will encourage industry to drill more wells in our communities at this time, creating more jobs and tax revenue for municipalities by expanding their assessment base.” The final measure, says Allard, will be a lowered assessment on less-productive oil and gas wells. “We are doing these initiatives because you matter, your businesses matter, your families matter, your livelihoods matter, and your communities matter,” Allard says. She said that municipalities across the province indicated that they were willing to be partners with the province in supporting the economy, including the oil and gas sector, and she thanked those municipalities for that commitment. “I expect them to do all they can to
avoid increases to ratepayers and I believe that they will do just that.” She thanked the Rural Municipalities Association (RMA) and Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) for their engagement in the process. “This announcement shows the benefits of collaboration and should result in visibly local results in community after community across Alberta. “It also shows that when we find common ground to support each other and work together, we can and will create better outcomes. We will need to continue working together as this conversation will continue.” Allard says the new measures are meant to provide much-needed certainty to industry, investors, municipalities, and other taxpayers for the next three years. She says in the coming months, the province will be developing a plan for a long-term review of the regulated assessment system, including the ongoing issue of unpaid taxes. “We remain committed to consultations and open dialogue together with industry and our municipal partners.” RMA President Al Kemmere commented on the announcement, first thanking Allard for her efforts and time taken to meet with municipalities. “It has been a tough time this summer for all RMA members as we saw significant challenges from previous scenarios. That’s why we’ve supported this in the form that it is right now because this is a much-modified approach in dealing with the challenges that the oil and gas industry.” Kemmere said, “It’s very important for us to have a good, strong oil and gas industry; much like the oil and gas industry needs to have viable municipalities.” He called the measures a great effort to recognize these important issues while moving forward in the consultation process to try and come up with a solution. “This is about trying to find that See ASSESSMENT P23
$1 Including GST
RCMP report suspected fentanyl death Drug overdoses an issue of concern for local Detachment Leslie Cholowsky Editor, with files from Cpl. Trent Cleveland Acting C/O Killam
RCMP in Killam report that an 18year-old woman from Edmonton was brought into a local hospital last Tuesday, Oct. 15, due to a possible fentanyl overdose, where she passed away. Cpl. Trent Cleveland reports that drug overdoses have been an issue of concern to Killam RCMP. Members dealt with 85 occurrences between Oct. 1 and 14. Two 911 hangups, from Killam and Lougheed, were cleared by members. Three suspicious vehicles were reported to police, none were determined to be criminal in nature. RCMP dealt with five animal calls, three concerning injured deer or moose, and two concerning dogs and cattle. BC RCMP asked Killam members to perform a wellbeing check on an elderly individual living in a long term care facility in the region. When members followed up, no concerns were
identified. Killam members also assisted Camrose Police Service with locating two suspects on outstanding warrants. Both were located and released to appear in court. Police were called to the Killam Health Care Centre to assist staff with an uncooperative patient; members attended to keep the peace. RCMP assisted the public on two instances, one relating to a sudden death, the other on a call from a local business reporting a suspicious person on the property. Members mediated in a family dispute between siblings, no charges were laid. The Detachment received a call concerning a breach of recognizance regarding a person being where they were under court order not to be, but cleared when found to be unfounded. A Killam business was broken in to; suspects entered and rummaged through the building, nothing was reported missing. A break in at a Daysland Liquor Store See RCMP P24
Forestburg Fire Department hosts successful weekend food drive
FORESTBURG FIRE DEPT PHOTO
The Forestburg Fire Department held a food drive for the Flagstaff Food Bank on Saturday, Oct. 17, in the parking lot of Moore’s Shop Easy in lieu of their normal pancake breakfast celebrating Fire Prevention Week.