Municipalities to be empowered to collect unpaid taxes from oil and gas companies
LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Alberta Government has introduced legislation to ensure that oil and gas companies pay their property taxes.
Amendments have been proposed to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) to clarify a special lien for unpaid property taxes on linear properties, machinery, and equipment.
If a company becomes bankrupt or decides to not pay its taxes, the proposed changes would allow local governments to convince them to pay or potentially seize property to cover outstanding debts.
Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver referenced a report from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) from February 2021 that said these companies owe a total of $245-million to 69 municipalities in justifying the amendments.