Spend years and millions trying to impede construction of housing. Then, claim a "housing crisis" that can only be solved by doubling the taxes of certain homeowners, namely the ones who can't vote.
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It is eminently clear by now that the tax has no logical or practical basis, nor anything to do with "affordability", fairness or housing. Any ongoing debate in that regard is pointless---even the Town no longer tries to make that case.
It is about replenishing Town coffers through coercion and discrimination against homeowners who can't vote. Let's call a spade a spade.
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I have visited the Bow Valley for over 50 years and obviously I love it. However, the NIMBYism and resistance to change gets worse by the day.
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Speaking from long experience, 99.9% of dogs would not attack a deer and most wouldn't even pay any attention to one. This particular owner may deserve a ticket but for the most part leash laws are yet another cash grab by a Town that never runs out of ways to do just that. I can hear them now : "if you can afford to buy, feed and care for a dog, you should share your good fortune with us. Now hand it over".
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Excellent. Four years ago, I woke up from an endoscopy to be told I had esophageal cancer. Radiation, chemo and an operation to remove the esophagus soon followed and today I feel fine and my scans are clear. The endoscopy (and speedy referral thereto by my alert GP) saved me.
My advice to everyone: if you have serious reflux or a diagnosis of "Barrett's" (and/or difficulty swallowing food), don't waste time--arrange for an endoscopy quickly.
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I agree with this letter, and would add that Council spent/wasted an estimated $1m to unsuccessfully stop Three Sisters from building a development that would have included a substantial amount of truly affordable housing. This "vacancy" tax has never had any connection to the so-called housing crisis, and after all this time and discussion, Council has not been able to muster any argument (let alone a compelling one) that it would. Cash grab to fund ill-advised litigation.
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For a small mountain town, Canmore seems exceptionally litigious. The ill-fated TSMV tribunal hearing; the shellacking at the Alberta Court of Appeal; the new so-called "vacancy" tax that is sure to be contested; the $160 million civil lawsuit alleging the Town had no basis to block the previously-approved Three Sisters development; the doubled off-leash fines; now this.
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Virtually everyone I have talked to agrees the Livability tax will do nothing for livability or affordable housing, even those in favor of it. I assume the elected officials know that too. It's about much-needed revenue. The legal fees for the two failed TSMV hearings, the misfeasance lawsuit and now the off-site levy litigation must be staggering and the money has to come from somewhere creative.
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Kajal is doing excellent reporting----great addition 👍
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