15.74°C Vancouver

May 1, 2025 7:45 PM - The Canadian Press

Canmore’s vacancy tax bylaw deemed valid by Alberta judge

Share On
canmores-vacancy-tax-bylaw-deemed-valid-by-alberta-judge
The new tax is part of the town's bid to reverse course on a cost-of-living crisis that has turned the once blue-collar town into an pricey mountain enclave.

The Rocky Mountain town of Canmore will soon begin taxing homeowners who leave their residences empty for more than half the year.

The new tax is part of the town's bid to reverse course on a cost-of-living crisis that has turned the once blue-collar town into an pricey mountain enclave. But the tax has upset many of Canmore's homeowners who use their properties seasonally or on the weekend, and who will be forced to pay about three times more in property taxes than the average primary-resident.

Canmore Mayor Sean Krausert says the tax is not an attack on second homeowners.

An Alberta judge this week ruled that the town is within its rights to move forward with the tax after a group had argued it was outside the town's authority.

Ron Casey, a former Canmore mayor, said the idea has been tossed around since for years. But he says some of the anger is due to the fact that the town doesn't appear accountable to how it spends the new revenue, though Canmore says it will be spent on affordable housing. Canmore will start collecting the levy next year.

Latest news

uk-france-and-23-other-countries-say-the-war-in-gaza-must-end-now
WorldJul 21, 2025

UK, France and 23 other countries say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’

Twenty-five countries including Britain, France and a host of European nations say the war in Gaza “must end now” and Israel must comply with international law. The foreign ministers of countries including Australia, Canada and Japan have condemned “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians” seeking food.
pm-to-meet-with-u-s-senators-in-ottawa-to-talk-trade
CanadaJul 21, 2025

PM to meet with U.S. senators in Ottawa to talk trade

Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with a delegation of U.S. senators this morning who are in Ottawa to discuss the ongoing trade conflict between Canada and the U.S. A media advisory from the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance says four senators plan to "reaffirm the importance of ties between the United States and Canada" in meetings with Carney and other top government officials. The delegation includes Democratic senators Ron Wyden of Oregon, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, as well as Republican senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. In a letter to Car
father-arrested-in-new-york-in-death-of-9-year-old-daughter-he-had-reported-missing
WorldJul 21, 2025

Father arrested in New York in death of 9-year-old daughter he had reported missing

A Canadian manwho reportedhis 9-year-old daughter missing in New York has been arrested after she was found dead, authorities said Monday. Luciano Frattolin, the father of Melina Frattolin, was charged with second-degree murder and concealing of a corpse, New York State Police spokesman Robert McConnell said. State Police said Luciano Frattolin reported the girl missing andpossibly abducted on Saturday, leading officials to issue an Amber Alert to enlist the public's help in finding her. But authorities said over the weekend that there were inconsistencies in the father’s account, and that t
premiers-to-meet-with-indigenous-groups-on-first-day-of-three-day-ontario-gathering
CanadaJul 21, 2025

Premiers to meet with Indigenous groups on first day of three-day Ontario gathering

A three-day meeting of the country's premiers gets underway today, and the first item on the agenda is discussions with Indigenous groups. The premiers are gathering at Deerhurst Resort in Ontario's cottage country and trade and tariffs are expected to be the main topics, particularly when they meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Mark Carney. But first they are set to have discussions with leaders from the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council and the Native Women's Association of Canada, among other Indigenous groups. That meeting comes as Indigenous communities have expressed c
japans-ishiba-says-hell-stay-in-office-to-tackle-inflation-and-us-tariffs-despite-election-loss
WorldJul 21, 2025

Japan's Ishiba says he'll stay in office to tackle inflation and US tariffs despite election loss

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday he will stay in office to tackle challenges such as rising prices and high U.S. tariffs aftera weekend election defeatleft his coalition with a minority in both parliamentary chambers. Ishiba’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito were short three seats to maintain a majority in the 248-seat upper house in Sunday’s vote. The coalition is now a minority in both houses of the Diet, or parliament, though the LDP is still the leading party. Ishiba said he takes the result seriously but that his priority is t

Related News