Alberta Archives

Alberta's September Tax Notes

For the latest installment of the Province of Alberta's tax publication, Tax Notes, please see the PDF file on their web site at:
http://www.finance.alberta.ca/tax_notes/Publications/2010-0930.pdf

Alberta Tax Notes - October 2009 issue

The October 2009 issue of Alberta Finance and Enterprise, Tax and Revenue Administration's Tax Notes is now available in PDF format at:
http://www.finance.alberta.ca/tax_notes/Publications/2009_1001.pdf

Government of Canada delivers on the promise of the Softwood Lumber Agreement

$467 million in export charges paid to 6 provinces

In a Canada Revenue Agency News Release, Minister of National Revenue Gordon O'Connor has announced that the CRA has distributed close to $470 million in revenue to six provinces from charges on exports of softwood lumber products destined for the U.S.

According to the release:

"The six provinces whose products may be subject to the export charge under the September 2006 Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) are: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Exports of softwood lumber products from the Atlantic provinces are not subject to the export charge."

For more information, see:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/newsroom/releases/2008/jan/nr080111-e.html

Alberta June Tax Notes

The June 2007 issue of Alberta Finance's Tax Notes is now available on the Government of Alberta web site. Articles in this edition include:
- Budget 2007 impact on small business and tobacco taxes...
- The shoe was on the other foot for TRA, when the IFTA auditors paid a visit...
- Client satisfaction and Tax Notes survey results are in...
- Aggressive tax planning schemes and what we're doing about them...
- IFTA training for carriers coming this fall...
- How we're responding to your needs with web enhancements... and more.

For more information, see Alberta Finance, Tax and Revenue Administration, at:
http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/tax_notes/Publication/2007_0618.pdf

Alberta Patient Stands Up to Government Prohibition of Health Insurance

OTTAWA & EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded favourably to the court case launched today by the Canadian Constitutional Foundation, on behalf of Calgary resident Bill Murray, challenging the Alberta law forbidding citizens from purchasing private health insurance.

Mr. Murray was not only denied the opportunity to receive a Birmingham hip replacement, Alberta law denies all Albertans the right to purchase private health insurance that would have helped cover the cost of his surgery.

“We applaud Mr. Murray for standing up against this injustice rather than simply going quietly into the night. Denying an individual medical treatment while also making it illegal to purchase health insurance is unconscionable and completely unacceptable in a free and democratic society,” said CTF federal director John Williamson.

The Murray v. Alberta case seeks to replicate the Supreme Court of Canada decision in Chaoulli v. Quebec, which struck down a Quebec law forbidding the purchase of private health insurance on the grounds that it violated the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. The Alberta government recently scrapped plans to allow Albertans to purchase complimentary private health insurance. The Chaoulli ruling is only applicable to the province of Quebec and the Murray case will seek to enshrine similar rights in the rest of Canada, beginning in Alberta.

“The Chaoulli case properly ruled when the medicare monopoly system results in waiting lines, Quebecers have the right to spend their after-tax dollars on their own health care,” said CTF Alberta director Scott Hennig. “Albertans can’t be blamed for wanting those same rights.”

“Canadians are well ahead of their government when it comes to health reform,” stated Mr. Hennig. “Enough is enough. How many more people must sit and suffer on government waitlists before politicians remove this archaic ban on private health insurance? Canada’s health care system must change. The only other nations that ban private medical services and private medical insurance are Cuba and North Korea.”

John Williamson
Federal Director
Canadian Taxpayers Federation

September issue of Alberta's Tax Notes

Alberta Finance Tax and Revenue Administration has released its September issue of Tax Notes.

In this issue:
Why change the Fuel Tax Act?
What is the Unclaimed Personal Property and Vested Property Act that will be reintroduced into the Legislature early next year?
Some IFTA changes will make it easier to comply.
How to avoid a Marked Fuel pitfall.

You can view Tax Notes at:
http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/tax_notes/Publication/2006_0901.pdf

Alberta Finance: latest issue of Tax Notes

The Government of Alberta Finance Department's Tax and Revenue Administration has released its latest issue of Tax Notes (PDF format).

The issue includes articles and information on;
- Property that Vests in the Crown
- Letters of Authorization
- Tax and Revenue Administration Client
- Self-service System (TRACS)
- Tourism Levy Publications now online
- Clarifying IFTA/IRP Books and Record Requirements
- For your convenience – electronic payment

For more information on the Tax Notes e-Newsletter, see:
http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/tax%5Fnotes/

Alberta’s “Baby Steps” on Health Care Reform

Alberta's "Baby Steps" on Health Care Reform – A Small Step Forward

St. Andrews by-the-Sea (New Brunswick): The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today responded to the Alberta government's health care announcement, describing the reforms as "baby steps" towards more choice and accountability within the medicare system. The province will open up the state-run health care system to more competition by permitting health authorities to contract medical services out to the private sector. However, the prohibition on medical insurance remains in place.

"Canadians should have the right to spend their own money on health care services for themselves and their loved ones as recently directed by the Supreme Court of Canada in its Chaoulli ruling," stated CTF federal director John Williamson.

"Albertans are allowed to spend their own money on alcohol, tobacco, vacations, jewelry, VLTs, and fast food. But when it comes to better health care or faster health care, Alberta’s laws prohibit its residents from buying their own medical insurance to obtain better health care," added Williamson. "Unfortunately, this ban remains in place after today’s announcement in Calgary."

The Alberta Health Care Insurance Act has similar provisions to the Quebec law struck down by the Supreme Court this past June, which prevents people from spending their own after-tax dollars on their own health care. In its Chaoulli decision, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that suffering – and dying – while waiting for "non-urgent" medical care violates our right to "life, liberty and security of the person.' The court noted – on the basis of unchallenged evidence before it – that delays for surgery cause irreparable physical injury, and can even result in death. Further, living in pain for months – or years – while waiting for surgery interferes with the quality and enjoyment of life, not to mention a person's ability to earn a living.

In the most recent ranking of public health care systems by the World Health Organization, Canada ranked 30th in the world, behind France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Morocco, Singapore, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries which allow a private parallel system to co-exist alongside the public system.

"Canada, North Korea and Cuba are the only countries in the world which outlaw the freedom to spend one's own after-tax income on one's own health. It's time to amend the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act, and if necessary the Canada Health Act, to allow Albertans and other Canadians to spend their own money on the medical services and medical insurance of their choice," concluded Williamson.

John Williamson
Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Alberta Tax Notes Newsletter

Recently the Government of Alberta launched the first edition of a new electronic newsletter, Tax Notes, to provide information about Alberta tax programs, changes to legislation and policies, tax filing support, and related provincial tax information.

Included in the first edition released on March 31, 2005, is information concerning Alberta-specific issues in the calculation of taxable income, a clarification of penalty/interest waivers, and a progress report on the initiative to simplify the Tax Exempt Fuel User program.

Those interested in the publication can subscribe to have editions delivered to their email inbox or view the the publication on the Alberta Finance web site.

For more information or to subscribe, see:
http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/tax_notes/index.asp

Alberta recycling tax on computers & TVs

The Canadian Press has reported that on February 1st a new tax came into effect in the province of Alberta. The province has instituted a recycling tax on computers and TVs in a move to keep them out of Alberta landfills.

A levy of $15 to $45 on new televisions, depending on size, and $30 on a desktop computer system came into effect February 1st.

Ontario and Saskatchewan are looking at similar programs.

For more information see:
http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=canada_home&articleID=1833048