Province parks controversial service fee
Posted Aug 25, 2011 7:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The province is putting the brakes on its unpopular plan to charge police and municipalities a $15 fee for checking licence plate and driver licence information.
The Conservative government made the decision Wednesday after hearing complaints for months from police services and communities about the cost.
However, the mayor is reacting to news of the delay saying it’s good, but “does not go far enough.”
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, he adds that while “the delay is helpful for municipalities and taxpayers, the real solution is to not impose the fee at all.”
Service Alberta was expecting to collect about $12 million in such fees this fiscal year.
The President of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, Darren Aldous is pleased the province is acting on their concerns by putting the fee on hold, until it can be reviewed further.
He tells 660News, the fee punished the wrong people.
“Property taxpayers should not be subsidizing people who are breaking the law,” said Aldous.
Aldous adds AUMA will now gather more information from its membership about how Service Alberta can gather the money it needs to pay for an upgrade to its information system.
The $15 fee was to be used to pay for the upgrade.
The department says it will now consult with affected groups before coming up with a new plan, in time for the government’s next budget in 2012.
