Motion – Industrial Property Tax Rates

Enough is enough, for years Liberal and Conservative governments have talked about fixing Saint John’s financing issues without taking any action to fix the root problems. Once again successive governments are leaving everyday New Brunswickers to foot the bill so heavy industry can continue to pay less than its fair share. It’s time to end their free ride.

Kevin Arseneau

WHEREAS, during Local Governance Reform, the Higgs government raised the maximum multiplier that municipalities are permitted to charge for non-residential and heavy industrial properties to 1.7;

WHEREAS 35 Brunswick municipalities have increased their multiplier to 1.7 and are not permitted to increase it further;

WHEREAS Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan do not have limits on non-residential and industrial property tax multipliers;

WHEREAS New Brunswick residents shoulder more than their fair share of the property tax compared to large industrial facilities;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to remove the maximum limit on the municipal property tax multiplier for non-residential and heavy industrial properties;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to create additional industrial property tax classifications;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to eliminate property tax exemptions on heavy industries.