Alberta proposes tax exemptions to increase affordable housing as part of Bill 20
The Alberta government announced new initiatives and tools for municipalities to increase the amount of affordable housing available across the province.
These would be changes to the Municipal Government Act as part of the controversial Bill 20, which has received criticism from municipalities in Alberta.
- Alberta Municipalities said it hasn't been given chance to consult on changes to bill
- Municipal political party forms in Edmonton as politicians continue Bill 20 debate
Proposed amendments to the act include fully exempting non-profit subsidized affordable housing from municipal and education property taxes.
Another proposed change would allow municipalities to offer multi-year residential property tax exemptions.
The provincial government is also proposing new rules around public hearings, including requiring digital options for attendance.
"We're also encouraging municipalities to make decisions in a timely manner, which is why we are restricting the ability for municipalities to hold extra public hearings that are not required by legislation," said Ric McIver, minister of municipal affairs.
"We are also proposing to limit the ability of municipalities to require non-statutory studies for building and developing permits."
So far this year, there have been nearly 10,000 new housing construction projects in the province, an increase from 6,200 at the same time in 2023, according to Jason Nixon, minister of seniors, community and social services. One third of the housing starts this year are for rental units.
"There are so many barriers to building more homes that we have the power to remove and with this legislation, we will address these barriers encouraging more efficiency, which ultimately gets more shovels in the ground," Nixon said.
The province aims to support 82,000 more low-income households by 2031, added Nixon.
Outside of the changes in Bill 20, the Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) program criteria will also be expanded to include the capital costs of privately-owned affordable or attainable housing.
"The CRL program has already seen great success in Calgary and Edmonton and other communities like Cochrane and Airdrie are using it as well," McIver said.
"Our goal is that this approach gives cities one more tool they can consider using to address housing issues at the local level."
Changes to the city charters in Edmonton and Calgary have also been proposed by the province.
These include: allowing developers to appeal offsite levies to the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, removing provisions around inclusionary housing zoning and repealing the cities' authority to create bylaws related to building codes and energy efficiency standards.
According to McIver, these changes will mean less uncertainty from builders and lower costs for homes.
"Alberta needs one building code. Now, this doesn't stop a municipality if they want to incent a higher standard of environmental equipment in a home, but they don't have the ability to demand it as a condition of building a home that way," McIver said.
"If we were to allow that, in my opinion that would probably get less housing built at a time when more housing is exactly what we need."
Officials with the City of Edmonton say the changes will make things more expensive for developers.
"We've had feedback from the development industry that more stringent energy codes can add additional costs to the construction of a building," the city's Kim Petrin said.
While the city can't approve projects anymore, they can still incentivize companies to break ground.
"The team is looking at how applications that have green elements to them that we'd be able to expedite those applications."
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi says the city's development industry has been innovative in finding ways to build better and reduce emissions.
"They're taking actions on their own to make buildings more sustainable and energy efficient. We will continue to incentivize and support our industry to do so."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes
Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
NDP wants Liberals to scrap proposed election date change that could secure pensions for many MPs
The federal New Democrats want to amend the Liberal government's electoral reform legislation to scrap the proposal to push back the vote by a week and consequently secure pensions for dozens of MPs, CTV News has learned.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
'I didn't think it was real': Oilers fans score free Game 4 tickets from stranger
There's always something to be happy about when the Edmonton Oilers are making good strides in the playoffs, but this is especially true for two lucky fans who were able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Game 4 — for free.
Aurora borealis returning to night skies across Canada this Friday: NOAA
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
Doug Ford suggests immigrants behind Jewish school shooting
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested immigrants are to blame for the shooting of an empty Jewish school in Toronto over the weekend, despite police saying they have little information on the suspects.
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
Man stabbed in both legs with a machete in Times Square
A man was stabbed in both legs with a machete at New York's Times Square on Thursday afternoon, police said.
Shania Twain shares how she forgave her ex-husband's cheating: 'It's his mistake'
Shania Twain recently addressed the infidelity that rocked her marriage to Robert 'Mutt' Lange, whom she divorced in 2010 after he had an affair with her friend, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.