By Charles Lefebvre

Province tables bill to make it easier for municipalities to provide tax incentives for development

Jun 4, 2019 | 3:00 PM

EDMONTON, AB — The provincial government is introducing amendments to the Municipal Government Act with the goal of helping municipalities attract investment and development.

Bill 7, the Municipal Government Amendment Act was tabled Tuesday afternoon, and features several amendments to the current act.

Among the items in the amendments, municipalities will be able to create bylaws to provide multi-year property tax incentives to encourage redevelopment of brownfield properties. The incentives can be put in place for up to 15 years.

It will require municipalities to create their own bylaws for the properties, but are able to table it to their needs, depending on the industry and development they want to attract.

Earlier this year, Medicine Hat passed their own Brownfield Tax incentive to help spur development on two vacant properties: the 603 First Street lot and the Medicine Hat Arena.

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In April, developers announced plans to turn 603 First Street into a boutique hotel.

Brownfield properties are sites which have possible contamination, are vacant, derelict or under-utilized and is suitable for development or redevelopment for the general benefit of the municipality, according to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association.