The Minister of Municipal Affairs, Shaye Anderson visited our region and spoke at the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon on Thursday, April 26.
He was asked about Bill 21, the Modernizing the Municipal Government Act, that would have municipalities across the province have a mandatory non residential to residential tax ratio of 5:1.
Currently the RMWB’s ratio is 17.9:1.
The Previous council had partnered with industry to support a 10-year transition period to achieve the 5:1 ratio however, Mayor Don Scott and his new council aren’t in full agreement with that plan.
Anderson clarified that the provincial government would be willing to work with the municipality, but there will be no grandfathering or exceptions under Bill eight which plans to strengthen municipal government.
“It’s the time to adjust, the grandfather was something said a few years back by another minister but it was never part of the equation,” said Anderson.
If the current council does decide to go ahead with the 10 year transition period, Anderson said there would be no issue.
“We’ve said that it’s not going to happen overnight. This has to be very gradual, especially for somewhere like Fort Mac where the ratio is very high,” said Anderson. “Fort Mac [is a municipality] that concerns me a lot and I want to make sure that people are okay and that the municipality is okay.”
Anderson also noted that while he understands the issues surrounding a Fly in Fly Out Workforce, the provincial government has no say in the matter as it is a municipal issue.
“That being said, when I’ve talked to OSCA (Oil Sands Community Alliance) and the RMWB they are in communication, they have a good relationship and their going to sit down and work through it and see if there is anything they can come to balance on,” said Anderson.
Anderson believes that OSCA and the RMWB will be able to come to terms and do what’s best for both industry and the region.
