The City of Edmonton property tax and utility fee increases will cost approximately $180.00 more per year. These regressive taxes will clearly affect seniors on low or fixed incomes.

Passage of the recently introduced Seniors Property Tax Deferment Act, which we have been advocating for since 2009, will provide much needed relief. This bill is not a hand out but a hand up which will provide an option for hard pressed seniors to use the equity in their homes to pay the taxes when the property is sold.  Suffice to say the benefits are huge and will have positive implications to the health, security and well being of those who avail themselves of this option. We therefore ask the government for speedy passage of this Bill in the next session.

We thank MLA George VanderBurg who has recently been appointed Seniors Minister, for his insight in this regard, as well as all MLAs who supported 1^st & 2^nd readings of the Bill.

Media inquires may be directed to:    

John MacDonald, Executive Director

780-920-3058

unitenow@telus.net