Re: Whitecap Resource's $187,532 Mountain View County tax penalty cancelled
I’ll be the first to admit, I have too much time on my hands and I try to ignore some of the trivialities occurring around me. The Grizzlys are on an extended losing streak as usual, or the county wants to remove a few weed trees for the safety and convenience of local residents, it is what it is. However, the latest issue of the Albertan caused a spike in my blood pressure.
As a county resident , ratepayer and a senior on a limited income, facing ever increasing expenses from all sides, I find it outrageous that council would be willing to forgo almost $200,000 in tax penalties because of someone’s carelessness.
The computer screwed up? Yeah right. Kudos to councillors Peggy Johnson, Gord Krebs and the others who voted against it. Gord would be a good choice for reeve in the opinion some of us down-to-earth types.
A former councillor maintains this is a first in his recollection and I remember the case, not so many months ago, when county refused to cancel a comparatively trivial penalty, because the party was a week late in paying. His wife probably forgot to remind him, that’s how these things work. His computer screwed up.
Up to this time, we’ve been dealing with substantial unpaid taxes and orphan wells because the energy companies were in a bind and couldn’t or wouldn’t pay.
Apparently the county wants me to pay for getting the exact amounts, couldn’t they forgive that? Paying for information is a gateway for those who have something to hide.
Times have changed and Alberta and the companies involved are reaping a bonanza. The province has a record surplus as a result. Windfall tax anyone?
Bottom line, we have to have one policy for all or what is the point of having late payment penalties? Perhaps we should just drop them.
The amount isn’t trivial as in the case of the properly owner, who could have used it for other purposes in these trying times.
I throw down the glove and invite Mountain View County to respond editorially and let us in on the reasons for this arbitrary and unwarranted exception, other than “they’re good corporate citizens."
Hans Ullmann,
Mountain View County
