1 00:05:07,199 --> 00:05:11,919 Good morning. My name is Sally Cooer 2 00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:15,919 Johnson and I will be the chair of this 3 00:05:11,919 --> 00:05:17,600 council meeting for today, February 2nd, 4 00:05:15,919 --> 00:05:21,919 2026. 5 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:24,320 I call this meeting to order at 1 1:00. 6 00:05:21,919 --> 00:05:27,199 I will proceed with today's com uh 7 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:30,720 members. We have five counselors in 8 00:05:27,199 --> 00:05:32,960 attendance and one mayor and councelor 9 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:34,960 McNab is not present for today's 10 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:40,639 meeting. 11 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:43,120 Could I ask um councelor Ducet to um put 12 00:05:40,639 --> 00:05:46,639 the to put the motion for the adoption 13 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:50,320 of the gen agenda? 14 00:05:46,639 --> 00:05:51,600 » Uh I motion that we adopt the agenda 15 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,840 please and thank you. 16 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:56,479 » Okay. And could I ask uh councelor 17 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:59,680 Jesperson to put the to adopt the 18 00:05:56,479 --> 00:06:03,759 minutes of Oh, could we have a vote on 19 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:06,720 that, please? All in favor? 20 00:06:03,759 --> 00:06:09,039 » All in favor? Okay, moving on to the 21 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,880 adoption of the minutes. Uh, councelor 22 00:06:09,039 --> 00:06:12,960 Jesperson, 23 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,840 » Deputy Mayor Sally Cooer Johnson, there 24 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:18,720 are no minutes to adopt for this agenda. 25 00:06:15,840 --> 00:06:20,720 » Okay. No delegations 26 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:23,600 and or anything like that. New business. 27 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:26,800 Okay. So then we'll just move on to uh 28 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:30,160 6A1 which is the creation of a rural 29 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:33,039 charter. I will hand that over to uh 30 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,720 Mayor Shagus. 31 00:06:33,039 --> 00:06:36,479 » Thank you madam chair. So I am going to 32 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:39,440 put a motion forward that the creation 33 00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:42,400 of the rural charter be tabled uh to the 34 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:44,240 June 23rd 2026 council meeting at 35 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,560 Parkland County Center in council 36 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:49,840 chambers. And the reason I'm tableing 37 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:52,319 this, I um had hoped to uh bring this 38 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:55,440 matter before the PMAN zone meeting uh 39 00:06:52,319 --> 00:06:57,759 on the 9th of February. Um they do need 40 00:06:55,440 --> 00:07:01,824 agenda items in believe that the 41 00:06:57,759 --> 00:07:04,080 deadline is today or tomorrow. Um and I 42 00:07:01,824 --> 00:07:05,440 [clears throat] I believe we need to uh 43 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,680 spend a little bit more time in 44 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,919 presenting the uh and developing the 45 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,759 background information so uh it's 46 00:07:09,919 --> 00:07:14,639 provides greater clarity to the 47 00:07:11,759 --> 00:07:17,120 delegates um at the zone meeting. uh 48 00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:19,280 should it get past council. So, um with 49 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,720 that, I do have the tableing motion on 50 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:23,680 the floor. 51 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:28,120 » Okay. At this time, um does anybody have 52 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:28,120 any uh questions for clarification? 53 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:34,160 Okay. 54 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,759 Okay. I I guess I understand what you're 55 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:39,280 doing. Um, I think it would be 56 00:07:35,759 --> 00:07:41,680 interesting to find out um let uh the 57 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:44,160 RMA speak to it to find out if they 58 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:48,080 actually do any measurable enforcable 59 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:52,400 outcomes at this stage. 60 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:53,919 Um, okay. So, I guess we can move on 61 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:56,879 since that would be tabled, but we'll 62 00:07:53,919 --> 00:08:00,120 put we'll we'll have a vote on that. All 63 00:07:56,879 --> 00:08:00,120 in favor? 64 00:08:00,639 --> 00:08:07,440 So, moved. Okay. Um then we'll move on 65 00:08:03,919 --> 00:08:09,840 to uh 6 A2 66 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:12,319 increase the general corporate corporate 67 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,680 income tax rate. I'll hand that to Mayor 68 00:08:12,319 --> 00:08:15,120 Shagus. 69 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,639 » Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I'm bringing 70 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:21,520 this motion forward and I'll read it in 71 00:08:16,639 --> 00:08:24,160 for the records. And that is that um 72 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:26,400 uh this motion is for the Rural 73 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,240 Municipalities of Alberta to advocate to 74 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:30,639 the government of Alberta to increase 75 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:34,080 the general corporate income tax rate 76 00:08:30,639 --> 00:08:35,839 from 8% to 9 and a a half% while 77 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:38,320 maintaining the current small business 78 00:08:35,839 --> 00:08:40,000 corporate income tax rate. and further 79 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:42,479 be resolved that all new revenue 80 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:44,720 generated from the corporate income tax 81 00:08:42,479 --> 00:08:47,040 be directed to grant funding to Alberta 82 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,880 municipalities to address infrastructure 83 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,760 deficits. And I would speak to that if I 84 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:50,959 may. 85 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,040 » Of course. 86 00:08:50,959 --> 00:08:55,360 » Thank you. So I am bringing this forward 87 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,880 um recognizing the significant financial 88 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:59,120 challenges 89 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:01,279 um that municipalities are having and 90 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:04,560 the growing responsibilities that we 91 00:09:01,279 --> 00:09:08,000 have without um corresponding increases 92 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:10,880 in revenues. Um, I think this is uh 93 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:13,120 about uh this motion does bring about uh 94 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:15,839 and addresses fiscal responsibility and 95 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:18,800 long-term sustainability of Alberta 96 00:09:15,839 --> 00:09:22,240 municipalities and also helps address uh 97 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:24,080 the many uh issues that we do have uh 98 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,680 across the province, both urban and 99 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:28,399 rural municipalities regarding 100 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:30,080 infrastructure deficits. And uh 101 00:09:28,399 --> 00:09:31,680 currently in the [clears throat] 102 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:34,320 province of Alberta, we do have the 103 00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:37,519 lowest uh general corporate income tax 104 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:40,800 at 8%. Um and it's the lowest among all 105 00:09:37,519 --> 00:09:43,040 Canadian provinces and uh sign 106 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:46,080 significantly below the the national 107 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:49,920 average and it also is competitive with 108 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:52,560 most of the American states. Um, 109 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:55,600 according to a 2025 report from the 110 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:58,959 Fraser Institute, Alberta's general top 111 00:09:55,600 --> 00:10:01,360 combined corporate income tax uh is the 112 00:09:58,959 --> 00:10:03,519 seventh lowest amongst 61 peer 113 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:06,240 jurisdictions and the lowest of any 114 00:10:03,519 --> 00:10:09,040 province at 23%. 115 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:12,800 Alberta holds the third lowest combined 116 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:15,200 sales tax in North America at 5%. 117 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:17,279 So unquestionably uh unquestionably 118 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,880 maintaining a competitive uh business 119 00:10:17,279 --> 00:10:21,760 environment is important for the 120 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:24,000 province. Uh but Alberta's overall tax 121 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:26,640 structure including uh no provincial 122 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:28,880 sales tax, no provincial payroll tax and 123 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:32,240 the low natural resource royalties, 124 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:35,120 there are substantial uh advantages to 125 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:37,920 businesses operating in the province. 126 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:39,760 And so I I believe increasing the income 127 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:43,040 tax rate to 9 and a half still keeps 128 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:46,240 Alberta uh competitive um amongst 129 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:48,560 jurisdictions across North America while 130 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:51,560 uh generating significant new provincial 131 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:51,560 revenues. 132 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:57,680 the uh the uh anticipated revenue 133 00:10:56,079 --> 00:10:59,600 conservatively would be about a billion 134 00:10:57,680 --> 00:11:02,560 dollars a year. And again, this would be 135 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:05,360 directed at um grant funding for 136 00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:09,360 municipalities uh both urban and rural. 137 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:11,279 Um we did receive information from uh 138 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,519 last week where I identified the 139 00:11:11,279 --> 00:11:15,440 significant infrastructure deficit of 140 00:11:13,519 --> 00:11:18,240 the urban municipalities. Alberta 141 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:20,959 municipalities which represent the uh 142 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:23,120 roughly 260 urban municipalities 143 00:11:20,959 --> 00:11:25,600 estimates that their infrastructure 144 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:28,000 deficit is about 30 billion and 145 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:30,640 currently for RMA members the rural 146 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:33,200 members it's about 20 billion. Again, as 147 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:36,399 shared last week, um RMA is forecasting 148 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:38,720 that the rural uh infrastructure deficit 149 00:11:36,399 --> 00:11:42,240 will climb to roughly 40 billion dollars 150 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:46,480 by 2028 if all things remain constant. 151 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:49,839 So um I see this as an opportunity to 152 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:51,839 um again help support uh rural 153 00:11:49,839 --> 00:11:53,040 municipalities and industry as a whole. 154 00:11:51,839 --> 00:11:55,440 And there might be some people who 155 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:58,959 believe this might have a negative 156 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:00,880 impact on the economy. Uh but with the 157 00:11:58,959 --> 00:12:02,800 significant investment that is required 158 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:05,279 for infrastructure improvements and 159 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:07,839 enhancements uh that will create uh 160 00:12:05,279 --> 00:12:10,560 significant jobs and I believe it'll 161 00:12:07,839 --> 00:12:12,480 also improve to uh greater efficiencies 162 00:12:10,560 --> 00:12:15,120 and uh effectiveness in the movements of 163 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:18,079 goods and services which uh will 164 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:21,120 increase uh the province's position and 165 00:12:18,079 --> 00:12:23,440 our GDP. So happy to answer any 166 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,040 questions. Thank you, Madam Chair. 167 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,839 » Okay. Thank you very much. I guess we'll 168 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:29,920 open that up to debate. Councelor Ducet, 169 00:12:27,839 --> 00:12:32,639 » I would just like to ask the mayor um 170 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:36,000 for information. Um when was the last 171 00:12:32,639 --> 00:12:38,880 time the corporate rate was raised, 172 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:42,079 please? And thanks. 173 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:46,160 » I don't have that information. Um, but 174 00:12:42,079 --> 00:12:47,920 it was in uh when Premier Kenny was the 175 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:51,440 uh premier of Alberta, he did lower it 176 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:53,519 from 12% to 8 8%. Um, and so that's been 177 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:57,200 in place for I think I think that was in 178 00:12:53,519 --> 00:13:00,680 2018 or 2019. 179 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,680 Councelor Olsen, 180 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:06,160 » I think I it's more of a comment than a 181 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:08,720 question, but um 182 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:11,120 RMA has just launched a campaign called 183 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:14,639 Close the Gap, which is targeted 184 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:16,880 directly at reducing 185 00:13:14,639 --> 00:13:20,320 infrastructure deficits. So I what I 186 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:23,040 what I'm not sure of is if something 187 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:26,320 like this is already proposed within 188 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:28,959 that campaign. And if that's the case, 189 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:30,720 um I think this is certainly the time to 190 00:13:28,959 --> 00:13:32,240 get on board with that campaign and 191 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:36,399 support 192 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:39,040 as a whole um the movement. Thank you. 193 00:13:36,399 --> 00:13:43,040 » Thank you for that comment. Anybody 194 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:45,964 else? Uh Councelor Jesperson, 195 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:48,720 » I just have a few questions. Um 196 00:13:45,964 --> 00:13:50,560 [clears throat] could this really affect 197 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:52,800 uh businesses that want to move into 198 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:57,040 Alberta negatively? right now where we 199 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:58,720 seem to be the place to to go and uh I 200 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:01,519 don't know I feel this could affect it. 201 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:03,040 Um the second is 202 00:14:01,519 --> 00:14:05,920 how is this going to affect businesses 203 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:08,240 coming to Aches 204 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:11,440 » And uh the third is this even something 205 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:13,680 that uh uh as a municipal government we 206 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:18,199 should be pushing forward or advocating 207 00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:18,199 for this is kind of their thing. 208 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:24,560 Um to the first question about Alberta's 209 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:26,800 competitiveness um as mentioned um 210 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:29,920 increasing it to 9 and a half% will 211 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:31,680 still keep Alberta in a very competitive 212 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:34,079 uh position relative to other 213 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:37,199 municipalities. In fact Ontario and 214 00:14:34,079 --> 00:14:42,000 Quebec um their their corporate income 215 00:14:37,199 --> 00:14:45,199 tax is 11 a.5%. Um BC, Saskatchewan and 216 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:48,320 Manitoba are at 12%. And again, Parkland 217 00:14:45,199 --> 00:14:50,800 or pardon me, um, Alberta does not have 218 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:53,040 a provincial sales tax as well. Um, no 219 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:55,920 payroll tax. So, we are still very 220 00:14:53,040 --> 00:15:00,240 competitive and I don't think it will uh 221 00:14:55,920 --> 00:15:02,480 impact or pro uh uh businesses from 222 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:05,680 coming in nor the businesses in Aerson. 223 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:09,199 Yes, there will be um additional 224 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:13,600 additional um taxes being applied, but 225 00:15:09,199 --> 00:15:14,880 again for um businesses in Aches and 226 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,440 some of the constraints that we're 227 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:20,000 seeing uh in the transportation network, 228 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:23,680 specifically roads, um those funds will 229 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:26,639 be going to improve um the ability for 230 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:30,399 businesses to move their products. Um, 231 00:15:26,639 --> 00:15:33,040 so I I think we still will see a very 232 00:15:30,399 --> 00:15:35,199 competitive business environment. 233 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:38,639 » Okay, thanks for your comments. I guess 234 00:15:35,199 --> 00:15:41,600 uh my comments are that, you know, I 235 00:15:38,639 --> 00:15:44,240 appreciate you thinking outside the box 236 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:47,040 because I know that when I've talked to 237 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:49,199 ministers in the past, they said they do 238 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:51,360 not want to always hear that we want 239 00:15:49,199 --> 00:15:53,600 something. They want us to come up with 240 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:56,880 solutions every now and again. And I do 241 00:15:53,600 --> 00:16:00,000 see that you're proposing a solution, 242 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:03,120 but I think that if the when the Alberta 243 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,720 government asks us to or were to ask us 244 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:08,240 to increase our rate, we wouldn't take 245 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:10,240 that favorably. So I don't see that the 246 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:13,279 government of Alberta is going to be 247 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:16,480 taking this as a something helpful, 248 00:16:13,279 --> 00:16:19,680 asking them to increase taxes. And I'm 249 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:23,040 very sure that me as a representative 250 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:26,480 for my division, I don't want to be the 251 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:29,279 the front person to be asking for tax 252 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:33,440 increases right now. That won't be my 253 00:16:29,279 --> 00:16:36,000 job, especially for another organization 254 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:37,519 that has that has nothing really to do 255 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:40,000 with us. That I mean, they do have 256 00:16:37,519 --> 00:16:41,920 something to do with us, but 257 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:44,480 it's bad enough we've got to rate uh 258 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:46,399 advocate for our own increases. I don't 259 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,399 want to be doing that for the Alberta 260 00:16:46,399 --> 00:16:51,120 government. 261 00:16:48,399 --> 00:16:54,399 So, I guess I'm I'm not going to be in 262 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:57,936 favor of this motion. 263 00:16:54,399 --> 00:16:57,936 Go ahead. [snorts] 264 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:03,440 Um 265 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:05,600 I guess I didn't ask answer one of those 266 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:08,480 questions. Is is this our wheelhouse? 267 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:10,959 Our wheelhouse is to advocate for um our 268 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:13,120 residents and our business community. Um 269 00:17:10,959 --> 00:17:15,520 rural municipalities as was identified 270 00:17:13,120 --> 00:17:18,400 in the closing uh the gap report 271 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:21,280 identified that rural uh municipalities 272 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:24,799 have roughly 130,000 273 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:27,280 130,000 km of road 10,000 km of water 274 00:17:24,799 --> 00:17:30,080 and wastewater mains and 8,000 bridges 275 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:32,320 and culverts um to maintain. Uh the 276 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:34,720 funding le levels haven't been there. 277 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:37,360 They've been cut um as I shared last 278 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:39,520 week. Um that does not help our 279 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:42,000 residents. um that does not help our 280 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:44,080 business communities when uh we cannot 281 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,679 provide safe means of trans 282 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:49,919 transportation. This also affects our 283 00:17:45,679 --> 00:17:53,039 residents through safety issues um which 284 00:17:49,919 --> 00:17:55,919 as all of you are aware and heard on the 285 00:17:53,039 --> 00:17:58,000 campa campaign trail. There was calls 286 00:17:55,919 --> 00:17:59,520 for and Parkland County did advocate for 287 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,600 some improvements to the provincial road 288 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:03,200 network because of safety concerns. That 289 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:06,640 money isn't available right now. The 290 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:09,600 grants keep getting cut. Um, this year, 291 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:12,960 2026, marks the 40-year anniversary when 292 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:14,960 the provincial government um downloaded 293 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:16,880 um the responsibility for bridges to 294 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:20,000 rural municipalities. 295 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:23,280 I'd like to see this 40-year anniversary 296 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:26,080 be a time to celebrate that we actually 297 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:29,360 receive funding um at a level that helps 298 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:31,919 us to assist our residents um and the 299 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:35,760 business community to have u more 300 00:18:31,919 --> 00:18:37,760 effective um infrastructure whether it's 301 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:40,000 water and wastewater. So we're not 302 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:42,559 seeing significant increases in those 303 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:46,320 rates which impacts our uh 304 00:18:42,559 --> 00:18:48,240 municipalities, our businesses. um 305 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:52,000 funding for infrastructure like 306 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:54,960 broadband um you can you know roads, 307 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:56,960 water, wastewater uh broad broadband 308 00:18:54,960 --> 00:19:00,400 internet connect uh connectivity which 309 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:03,520 is huge and has huge impacts for for our 310 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:06,400 municipality and every residential or uh 311 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:08,720 rural municipality if we don't have a 312 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:11,679 robust system in place. Um so this is 313 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:14,240 just a means uh to have uh additional 314 00:19:11,679 --> 00:19:16,160 funding provided to uh municipalities. 315 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:18,480 Yeah. And yes I recognize the provincial 316 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:20,400 government also has their priorities and 317 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:22,240 their funding funding priorities might 318 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:26,320 be different from ours but our job is to 319 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:28,000 advocate for the best outcome for our um 320 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:30,240 residents and business community and I 321 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:32,480 believe that this this would do that. 322 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:34,880 Thank you 323 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,400 » Councelor Ducette. 324 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,840 Um, 325 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:40,720 with the information that you provided 326 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:42,720 to my question, I I think going back it 327 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:45,679 it might have been a little shortsighted 328 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:48,320 in my opinion uh of the provincial 329 00:19:45,679 --> 00:19:49,840 government to lower the rate, especially 330 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,480 when 331 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:55,200 we have um [snorts] 332 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:58,559 the oil leases that uh haven't paid paid 333 00:19:55,200 --> 00:20:01,600 up on their taxes. So, I guess I I'm in 334 00:19:58,559 --> 00:20:03,520 agreeance. I I don't want to see the res 335 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:06,480 I don't want to see further costs 336 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:08,160 downloaded to our residents. So I don't 337 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:11,120 see this as being a bad thing to 338 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:13,280 advocate for some recovery of the 339 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:15,840 percentage rate that was dropped in in 340 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:19,000 the past. So um I think I'd be on board 341 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:19,000 with it. 342 00:20:19,679 --> 00:20:23,160 » Councelor Jesperson. 343 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:28,880 » I think I understand where you're going 344 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:32,400 from or going or coming from. Um the the 345 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:35,120 thing I struggle with is 346 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:37,679 our corporations that are paying these 347 00:20:35,120 --> 00:20:39,039 taxes. Number one, it always goes back 348 00:20:37,679 --> 00:20:41,520 to the consumer and we're going to end 349 00:20:39,039 --> 00:20:45,520 up paying more for whatever product it 350 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:47,200 is. And uh the infrastructure that the 351 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:49,840 Alberta government decides to upgrade 352 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:52,240 may not be our infrastructure. 353 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:55,440 And uh I struggle with that at this 354 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:57,360 point. And I just I feel like uh the 355 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:59,840 consumer our residents are going to be 356 00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:03,320 paying for it indirectly and may not get 357 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:03,320 anything in return. 358 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:08,559 » Go ahead. 359 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:11,360 » Um I would counter that by saying that 360 00:21:08,559 --> 00:21:13,360 we'll be paying for it directly. So 361 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:16,480 deferring maintenance on infrastructure 362 00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:19,039 and I'll looked for um administration to 363 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:22,080 make comment on this as well. um and 364 00:21:19,039 --> 00:21:23,440 it's in the reports um of RMA if you 365 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,360 have an opportunity to take a look at 366 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:27,919 some of those reports as well. Deferral 367 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:31,039 of infrastructure maintenance and infra 368 00:21:27,919 --> 00:21:34,000 infrastructure improvements does come at 369 00:21:31,039 --> 00:21:36,559 a significant future cost um that's a 370 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:39,440 cost going to be borne by our rateayers 371 00:21:36,559 --> 00:21:41,679 um and it'll be larger than making sure 372 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:44,240 that there is remedial work being done 373 00:21:41,679 --> 00:21:46,880 or maintenance and maybe Mr. Hopkins can 374 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:50,000 speak to to this matter as well. Um, 375 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:52,720 this is about keeping our economy robust 376 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:55,200 and ensuring that our our roads are 377 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:58,320 safe. Um, that our water and wastewater 378 00:21:55,200 --> 00:22:02,400 systems do not fail. Um, there's issues 379 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:05,039 with uh uh human health and safety um 380 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:08,080 with failures, catastrophic failures of 381 00:22:05,039 --> 00:22:10,720 some of the infrastructure. Um, from my 382 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:12,640 perspective, these investments are not 383 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:15,039 only prudent, they're responsible 384 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:17,520 investments. Um, and they need to be 385 00:22:15,039 --> 00:22:20,480 made before th those expenditures grow 386 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:23,280 to an insurmountable rate where we will 387 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:24,320 not be able to attract industry. Thank 388 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:27,720 you, 389 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,720 » Councelor Olsen. 390 00:22:28,005 --> 00:22:32,080 » [clears throat] 391 00:22:29,919 --> 00:22:35,280 » Does administration want to address that 392 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,440 last comment first or 393 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:37,280 I 394 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:38,799 » I don't know if there's much else um for 395 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:41,760 administration to add other than the 396 00:22:38,799 --> 00:22:43,440 fact that we do agree that um deferred 397 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:45,679 maintenance is obviously an issue across 398 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:47,760 Alberta for infrastructure 399 00:22:45,679 --> 00:22:48,799 um and it is contained in in the RMA 400 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:52,880 report. But I think what we're talking 401 00:22:48,799 --> 00:22:54,799 about here is less so um county owned 402 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:58,480 infrastructure but provincial owned 403 00:22:54,799 --> 00:23:01,039 infrastructure that's within the county 404 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:03,200 and uh can you tell us or anybody tell 405 00:23:01,039 --> 00:23:05,919 us if there is something on the books 406 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:07,520 right now at RMA in regards to this 407 00:23:05,919 --> 00:23:10,520 because seems to me that we have talked 408 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,520 about 409 00:23:11,919 --> 00:23:15,360 » Uh to councelor Cooger Johnson currently 410 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,760 there's nothing on the books for 411 00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:19,600 something like this with RMA um there is 412 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,679 advocacy through the closing the gap 413 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:23,679 initiative. Um 414 00:23:21,679 --> 00:23:24,960 » But no not focused directly on raising 415 00:23:23,679 --> 00:23:25,280 the corporate income tax. 416 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,520 » Yeah. 417 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:29,679 » But but advocating to the province to 418 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:31,280 understand the unique needs of rural 419 00:23:29,679 --> 00:23:33,120 municipalities when it comes to the 420 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,600 amount of infrastructure that is within 421 00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:37,840 our borders and that we have to maintain 422 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:39,520 or support maintaining um and just 423 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:41,200 getting the province to recognize that 424 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:43,440 that comes at a cost and it does require 425 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:45,360 an investment. 426 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:48,559 » Okay. 427 00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:51,440 Councelor Olsen. 428 00:23:48,559 --> 00:23:54,400 » Yeah, and I'll just echo again my my 429 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:57,120 comment on on the close the gap campaign 430 00:23:54,400 --> 00:24:00,720 where I believe that there are several 431 00:23:57,120 --> 00:24:02,880 initiatives being taken uh very 432 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:05,120 seriously and requiring a a vast amount 433 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:07,679 of work by RMA on our behalf for the 434 00:24:05,120 --> 00:24:09,200 infrastructure issues as well as police 435 00:24:07,679 --> 00:24:11,039 funding 436 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:16,240 um 437 00:24:11,039 --> 00:24:19,600 and the like. So I think for me I would 438 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:21,760 I would like to see us become heavily on 439 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:23,679 board with that. 440 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,520 Not that this is not something that the 441 00:24:23,679 --> 00:24:27,279 government should be looking at. I I 442 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:31,279 can't imagine that it's not something 443 00:24:27,279 --> 00:24:35,840 they wouldn't look at. Um, 444 00:24:31,279 --> 00:24:39,039 so I feel like our advocacy 445 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:40,640 energy needs to be directed towards the 446 00:24:39,039 --> 00:24:42,640 initiatives on the table currently with 447 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:45,840 RMA. 448 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:47,760 » Thank you. I guess I concur with that 449 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:50,400 that uh I mean I agree that 450 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:52,080 infrastructure deficits are a problem. 451 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:54,159 That's why I'm surprised that well there 452 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:57,600 is it they are addressing it at that 453 00:24:54,159 --> 00:25:01,760 level at the RMA level. But I'm not 454 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:06,919 interested in increasing advocating for 455 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:06,919 tax increases for that. 456 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:11,360 » Is there any other comments out there 457 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:13,440 before we go to vote or 458 00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:15,440 » Just in closing? I do hope I have 459 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:18,559 support from uh council to move this 460 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:21,120 forward. Um we I think all of council is 461 00:25:18,559 --> 00:25:22,799 aware that we do have uh one bridge that 462 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:26,960 was permanently closed. We do have 463 00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:30,320 others that were identified as um 464 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:33,679 as a safety concern. Um we start closing 465 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:36,080 bridges, start closing roads. Um that 466 00:25:33,679 --> 00:25:38,960 has implications for safe emergency 467 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:42,320 response services. That has implications 468 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:44,000 for uh businesses um throughout Parkland 469 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:46,400 County, including our agricultural 470 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:49,600 sector. That impacts our bottom line. Um 471 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:52,720 that's that um does not reflect well on 472 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:55,360 our ability and any uh municipality to 473 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:58,559 attract further f further investment and 474 00:25:55,360 --> 00:26:00,400 and uh businesses into the province. And 475 00:25:58,559 --> 00:26:02,000 this is a competitive global 476 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:04,960 environment. We're dealing with many of 477 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:06,720 the businesses now um do not have to 478 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:09,600 locate. They're not married to a 479 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:12,080 specific province or a region in this 480 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:14,480 country. Um so we need to ensure that we 481 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:17,120 can provide the type of infrastructure 482 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:19,200 that supports uh industry as a whole to 483 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:21,843 maintain um our competitive nature and 484 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:23,120 to be able to attract um retained 485 00:26:21,843 --> 00:26:25,200 [clears throat] current current 486 00:26:23,120 --> 00:26:29,240 businesses and attract new businesses in 487 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:29,240 the future. Thank you. 488 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:35,360 » Okay. Anybody else? 489 00:26:32,799 --> 00:26:37,840 » Councelor Olsen. My final comment just 490 00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:40,159 surrounds around the fact that 491 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:43,279 um 492 00:26:40,159 --> 00:26:46,320 you know I fully understand the 493 00:26:43,279 --> 00:26:48,480 the ideology behind the a tax increase 494 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:52,000 here. Unfortunately, we have no 495 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:55,039 guarantee that the 1.5% 496 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:57,520 uh extra tax collected would be put into 497 00:26:55,039 --> 00:27:00,240 any other account besides general 498 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:02,799 accounts for this government. Uh I think 499 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:06,000 we've seen that in the past. 500 00:27:02,799 --> 00:27:08,480 I just um 501 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:11,679 I'm just not sure that this is where we 502 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:14,080 want to uh expend our energy at this 503 00:27:11,679 --> 00:27:18,159 time. 504 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:20,559 » Okay. Okay. So, I guess there's a motion 505 00:27:18,159 --> 00:27:23,279 on the floor and if we don't have any 506 00:27:20,559 --> 00:27:27,919 further questions or comments, we are 507 00:27:23,279 --> 00:27:31,120 ready for the vote. Um is we put it on 508 00:27:27,919 --> 00:27:34,640 the floor, didn't we? Okay. So I guess 509 00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:38,200 the vote is okay. So 510 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:38,200 all in favor 511 00:27:38,799 --> 00:27:41,799 opposed 512 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:47,679 okay the motion is carried 513 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:49,840 » Defeated 514 00:27:47,679 --> 00:27:51,840 » Defeated. 515 00:27:49,840 --> 00:27:54,240 » Oh defeated. Oh it was a tie. Sorry I 516 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:56,080 didn't see somebody's arm obviously. 517 00:27:54,240 --> 00:28:00,720 Okay. So it's defeated because it is a 518 00:27:56,080 --> 00:28:02,880 tie. Okay. And that's it everybody. Um, 519 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:06,000 this comes to the close of our meeting 520 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:10,080 already. Um, 521 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:12,720 so I will ask 522 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:15,200 Mayor Shagus to 523 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:18,200 » Just so I will adjourn the meeting at 524 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,200 123. 525 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,720 » I didn't see what 526 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:28,360 I was in favor of all three motions.