Court upholds Canmore’s livability tax program

A court upheld the Canmore livability tax program Thursday.

The Alberta Court of Appeal upheld Canmore’s livability tax program on Thursday.

The program applies a higher tax rate to homes that are not used as primary residences by owners.

It was brought in to help with the housing crisis in the mountain town, but was put on hold while an appeal worked its way through the courts.

The tax will charge the average part-time homeowner more than $6,300 a year, while full-time residents will pay about $2,100 annually in property taxes.

To avoid the tax, a home will need to be occupied by owners or renters for half a year, of which two months are continuous.

British Columbia and Toronto have implemented similar taxes in recent years.

The town is anticipating legislative changes by the province that could exempt Albertans from the higher tax rate.

With files from The Canadian Press