Close X
Monday, December 2, 2024
ADVT 
National

Surrey reconsiders 17.5 per cent tax increase

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Mar, 2023 10:52 AM
  • Surrey reconsiders 17.5 per cent tax increase

SURREY, B.C. - Councillors in Surrey, B.C., plan to use newly allotted provincial funding to reduce the city's proposed 17.5 per cent property tax increase slated for the 2023 civic budget.

During a finance committee meeting on Monday, councillors voted to send the budget back to staff so an $89.9 million allotment from the province's Growing Communities Fund could be applied to the bottom line.

A statement from the city says council has asked staff to use the money to cut the overall proposed property taxes from 17.5 per cent to no more than 12.5 per cent.

The revised budget is expected to be ready for review at council's next meeting on April 6.

Nearly 10 per cent of the original 17.5 per cent tax hike was related to the cost of Mayor Brenda Locke's pledge to keep the Surrey RCMP detachment and scrap a transition to a municipal police force.

Locke says Surrey's share of the provincial fund will shave five per cent off the cost of keeping the Mounties, but warned the budget would be "blown out of the water" if Surrey is ordered to proceed with the switch to a municipal force.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has said he expects a decision from his ministry on either returning to the RCMP or staying with the Surrey police transition before property tax notices are mailed to residents in late May or early June.

The B.C. government approved the previous council's request for transition to the Surrey Police Service and must do the same for the move back to the RCMP, in a decision Farnworth has said will ensure a safe plan for effective policing throughout the region, not just Surrey.

MORE National ARTICLES

Vancouver Police are investigating 2 homicides that took place a week apart

Vancouver Police are investigating 2 homicides that took place a week apart
The victim was located inside an apartment building on East Hastings near Carrall Street. VPD’s Homicide Unit has identified the victim as Joseph Kelly. No arrests have been made, and anyone with information is asked to call Vancouver Police. 

Vancouver Police are investigating 2 homicides that took place a week apart

Canada issues $500M in bonds for Ukraine

Canada issues $500M in bonds for Ukraine
The five-year, government-backed bonds were first announced last month. The money raised is expected to be channelled as a loan to Ukraine through the International Monetary Fund so the country can continue basic operations.

Canada issues $500M in bonds for Ukraine

Educated immigrants face underemployment as Canada leads G7 in educated workforce

Educated immigrants face underemployment as Canada leads G7 in educated workforce
Ruchi Gera was a dentist in India before arriving as an immigrant in Mississauga, Ont., in June. While she has a degree in dentistry and a graduate degree in oral medicine and radiology from India, she won't be able to work as a dentist in Canada before passing licensing exams that could take up to three years.

Educated immigrants face underemployment as Canada leads G7 in educated workforce

Most foreigners in Canada stay in province that give them study permit: Report

Most foreigners in Canada stay in province that give them study permit: Report
Quebec showed the highest international student retention rate of around 85 per cent, followed by Manitoba and Alberta (80 per cent).  British Columbia, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan showed retention rates between 70 and 80 per cent.

Most foreigners in Canada stay in province that give them study permit: Report

StatCan data shows how pandemic changed commutes

StatCan data shows how pandemic changed commutes
A million Canadians took a bus or train to work in 2021, which is less than the 1.2 million who took transit when the data was first collected in 1996 and almost 50 per cent lower than it was in 2016.

StatCan data shows how pandemic changed commutes

Snowstorm paralyzes B.C. south coast

Snowstorm paralyzes B.C. south coast
The snow and freezing temperatures turned many Metro Vancouver roads and bridges to sheets of ice, making the Tuesday evening commute an hours-long ordeal. At YVR, officials are urging patience after an EVA Air flight skidded off a taxiway upon landing Tuesday evening and remains stuck in the grass.   

Snowstorm paralyzes B.C. south coast