The Alberta government is asking rural municipalities to send letters pointing the finger at specific oil and gas companies that aren't paying their property taxes — but one rural leader says there's no hope for enforcement.The Alberta government has been seeking a list of names of oil companies who aren't paying taxes owed to municipalities since September, said Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.
He said the enforcement can go "as far as the minister directing the shut the bad actor down."Unpaid oil and gas taxes, stable funding priorities for Alberta's new municipal affairs minister Rural Municipalities of Alberta, which represents 69 counties and municipal districts, estimates oil and gas companies owe more than $250 million in overdue property taxes to rural communities across the province.
"We've been fighting with this longer than we should have," McIver responded. "It's gone on long enough, and maybe longer than that."Rural Alberta still dealing with unpaid oil and gas taxes as industry boom year nears close In an emailed statement, Jean's office said the name and nominate for enforcement process outlined in the September letter is just one tool being considered, and that the government shares the frustration of rural communities.