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LETTER: Canmore vacancy tax unfairly punishes part-time residents

LETTER: Town Council are looking to hold part-time residents – with limited voice or vote – responsible for provincial and town-wide issues since housing is a provincial responsibility.
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Editor:

The Town of Canmore's part-time residency tax sends an unwelcome message to residents who are neighbours, friends and proud Canmore residents.

In an era of diversity, equity and inclusion; the tax is discriminatory, inequitable and exclusionary.

My family and I have been Canmore residents for 27 years and have taken our ownership responsibly – having worked hard, saved carefully and made personal sacrifices to have that privilege. I have two children and nine adult grandchildren who share our family residence when able.

The new tax punishes one group of citizens for an affordability issue which they did not create and should not bear the burden of resolving, other than their reasonable share. Most part-time residents are also Alberta citizens who pay their share of provincial taxes and two provincial education requisition taxes to meet provincial responsibilities.

Town council are looking to hold part-time residents – with limited voice or vote – responsible for provincial and town-wide issues since housing is a provincial responsibility.

The new tax will not make a meaningful difference in affordability in Canmore. The Town has many normal options to impact the current high demands for housing in Alberta, including changes to zoning, approval of new development submissions, changes to municipal standards and regulations, cooperative affordable housing initiatives with the province and the private sector.

Affordable housing has been negatively impacted by cost inflation, costs of financing and high levels of provincial migration. Taxing one group in the community is not the solution.

The current action by Canmore council is contrary to the principles of our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and appears to circumvent a similar attempt by Canmore, which was rejected by the province more than a decade ago. Part-time residents want to be part of the solution in a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory way.

Ralph B. Young,

Canmore and Edmonton

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