By working together, governments deliver critical support for Alberta's municipalities

CALGARY, AB – “In early June, the Calgary Chamber joined the national call for support for Canada’s municipalities – as a member of the Canadian Global Cities Council (a coalition of CEOs of nine of Canada’s largest urban Chambers and Boards of Trade) and alongside the Business Council of Canada. Today, support was delivered for Calgary and other Albertan municipalities.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the considerable responsibility our municipalities have to deliver critical services to Canadians, and further exposed their fiscal limitations. We commend the provincial and federal governments for working together to deliver $1.1 billion in support for Albertan municipalities.

“Recognizing that our economic recovery will take years, we believe it is time to reimagine the municipal-provincial relationship in Alberta. To that end, the Calgary Chamber continues to urge the creation of a provincial joint task force to support the City of Calgary’s appetite to investigate the overhaul of the property tax assessment system.

“Property taxes represent the main source of revenue for the City, and it’s time we followed through on structural reform that sees equality for businesses and residents, and ensures that the City has the revenue it needs – through and beyond this moment of crisis.

“We also continue to stand with our colleagues from coast to coast in calling for a National Urban Strategy for Canada to shift from the current ad hoc project-based approach to federal infrastructure investments in Canada’s major metros, to one that aligns investments with regional priorities to accommodate growth and competitiveness.”

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For all media inquiries, please contact media@calgarychamber.com or (403) 750-0401.

About the Calgary Chamber

The Calgary Chamber is an independent non-profit, non-partisan business organization. For 129 years the Chamber has worked to build a business community that nourishes, powers and inspires the world.