The Government of Alberta has asked municipalities to pay property taxes

Edmonton’s mayor is once again asking the United Conservative Party government to pay the full share of property taxes on provincial buildings.

Premier Danielle Smith told a convention of Alberta municipalities on Friday that she would consider it.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi says until the province pays up, taxpayers will continue to collect millions in deferred payments from the province.

“We are owed $90 million,” Sohi said Friday of the approximate amount the province owes the city after five years of deferring provincial property taxes.

“It’s a huge amount of money that we have to collect from the rest of Edmonton’s property tax base, and it’s not fair.”

In 2019, the UCP government led by Jason Kenney reduced the amount of property taxes paid by the province to 75%. A year later, that number dropped to 50%.

“I have been asking for this change for two years now and every year this amount accumulates,” Sohi said.

Edmonton has several provincial buildings, such as the Legislature and the Seat of Government, but it is not the only city.

“This is particularly affecting small communities – tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid property taxes,” High Prairie Councilman James Waikle said Friday.

The resolution was one of 27 presented at this week’s convention, and its members voted overwhelmingly: in favor, 95.1 percent, or 510 votes.

Asked whether she would make the changes demanded by hundreds of local leaders, the Prime Minister assured that she would take them into account.

“We want to look at this because we need to better understand the rationale,” Smith said Friday.

“I need to understand the impact this has on every community.”

Smith says it’s time to review the issue ahead of possible changes to next year’s budget.

If no changes are made, the city estimates future losses will cost $19 million a year.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Chelan Skulski