Timeline of Events

Due to a communications embargo imposed by the Province, the County has had zero insight into the secretive assessment model review process that took place over the spring and summer of 2020. The County was granted mere days in which to engage local Ministers and MLAs before Legislature breaks for the summer.

Additionally, the County has a four-week time window (again, during the dead of summer) for any advocacy efforts regarding this highly consequential matter. Below is a timeline of events to date. The County will add to this timeline as events unfold.

January - July, 2020

Province Invites Oil & Gas Advocates to the Table

The Government of Alberta led a review of the assessment model for oil and gas properties.

According to the Government of Alberta, the review was intended to “modernize” the assessment model for oil and gas properties to enhance industry competitiveness while ensuring municipal viability.

January - July, 2020

Province Snubs Municipal Leaders

Notably, no municipal leaders were involved in the Government of Alberta's assessment model review. However, the following organizations were invited to the table:

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Explorers and Producers Association of Canada
Canadian Energy Pipeline Association
Canadian Property Taxpayers Association

January - July, 2020

Province Imposes Gag Order on Proceedings

Despite the County's Avocacy group Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) being present at the assessment model review, the Province placed a communications embargo on the proceedings.

Not only was the County was given no opportunity to participate; the County had no foreknowledge that such a review was taking place.

January - July, 2020

July 23, 2020

Province Briefs Ministers and Decision-Makers

The Government of Alberta finalized potential recommended changes to the model and briefed relevant provincial ministers and decision-makers on its recommendations.

July 24, 2020

County Gets the News

The County learns of the Province's assessment model review from its advocacy body Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) via a webinar.

The content of the webinar was met with universal concern and dissent by the municipal leaders present.

July 24, 2020

Advocacy Period Begins

The County is given just one week to engage Ministers and MLAs before they break for the summer.

The County is given four weeks to advocate in opposition to the Province's assessment model review; again, in the middle of summer with no Ministers or MLAs present.

July 30, 2020

Reeve Calls Special Meeting of Council

Lac Ste. Anne County Reeve Joe Blakeman called a Special Meeting of Council to ratify its plan of action in opposition to the Province's assessment model review.

July 30, 2020

The County has never been that reliant on linear assessment, but of course a tax increase would be a likely outcome of this model. We are examining a number of possible scenarios in addition to taxation that run the gamut from trimming soft services and severing intermunicipal partnerships to handing the keys back and dissolving into the Province. Everything is on the table because everything is at stake.

Ratepayers are Strongly Encouraged to Get Involved

The Province has given rural municipalities an advocacy period of 30 days. During this time, the County plans to aggressively lobby its local MLAs and Ministers, and to add a clear and resounding voice of dissent to those of adjacent rural municipalities.

The County encourages all concerned ratepayers to do the same. The contact details for Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs Tracy Allard and MLA for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland Shane Getson are indicated below.