-‘City Charters’ could mean sales taxes and more in Calgary and Edmonton
-BC’s Translink tax referendum proved citywide referendums are necessary 

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today launched a petition demanding Alberta Premier Rachel Notley require citywide referendums before giving any historic new tax powers to Alberta cities. 

The CTF launched this petition in the midst of ongoing talks between the premier and Alberta’s big city mayors, one priority of which has been City Charters. City Charters are special agreements that, like in Toronto, could give big city mayors and councils new tax powers, the likes of which Albertans have never seen before.

“We could see a Calgary sales tax or an Edmonton gas tax,” said CTF Alberta Director Paige MacPherson. “That’s what City Charters could mean. If so, Albertans deserve a say.”

A Calgary-specific sales tax and/or gas tax are just some of the options Calgary city council is currently considering, though they don’t have the power to impose them.

In British Columbia’s recent Translink tax referendum, 62% of residents voted no to a new sales tax to fund Translink’s plan for transit expansion.

“Next door we saw that a city sales tax was not automatically supported by residents,” said MacPherson. “Premier Notley should follow in the footsteps of BC Premier Christy Clark and previous Alberta premiers and say no to new tax powers without citywide referendums.”

Albertans can say no to new tax powers without citywide referendums by signing the CTF’s new petition online by clicking here.