Government Relations

Property Tax Mill Rate for Recreation Properties ___________________________________________________________

Would you like us to explore a Mill Rate for Recreation Properties? The NGCOA Canada – Alberta Chapter is exploring your interest in the possibility of approaching the Alberta Government about creating an additional municipal Mill rate exclusively for recreation properties: ski hills, campgrounds, golf courses, etc. Currently, most golf courses fall under the commercial mill rate and some (due to high assessments) are paying enormous taxes due to their commercial distinction. 

Please click here to make your position known as to whether you would like us to pursue this issue.

Alberta Golf Lobby Day: April 19, 2011 ___________________________________________________________

On April 19th, NGCOA Canada and the Alberta Golf Industry Association (AGIA) met with the Provincial Government for a successful ‘Golf Awareness Day’. A total of 15 volunteers broke out into groups and met with 25 MLA’s to tell the story about the business of golf and to discuss environmental stewardship.

The message was simple: present the economic facts on the size of our industry; show that we are careful and concerned about the environment; and to indicate that there are some flaws in the property tax evaluation system across the province.

With the direction and guidance of Impact Public Affairs, the group of volunteers were broken into 4 teams and sent out with a common message to attend scheduled meetings with 25 MLA’s. We first met with the Minister of Sustainable Resources Mel Knight. Minister Knight discussed watersheds, land use frameworks, and the importance of community involvement in developing what he described as ‘cumulative effect planning’ on 7 Regional Plans. The first being the recently announced Lower Athabasca Regional plan.

Most of the MLA’s were quite surprised at the Economic Impact golf had on the Alberta Economy and the message of professional turf managers applying federally regulated products hit home as well. Several MLA’s sympathized with us on the property tax flaws, but felt that this would be a long and tough battle if we wanted to pursue this issue. Most of the MLA’s agreed that the awareness day was a good first step in fostering a long term relationship with government. One MLA said it best, ‘if you want to have a good relationship with an MLA or a Minister, invite him or her to play golf at your facility. You will have their ear for 2-4 hours. You won’t get that here at the legislature!’ Good advice indeed.

The group also held a press conference and got some play on the local radio stations and newspaper articles across the province.

At 2:00 pm we sat in the viewing area and were introduced to the legislature before question period and listened in as party politics played out below. Shortly thereafter our final scheduled meeting was with our Premier. Group #2 was very impressed with his knowledge of the game and the fact that he allowed us to run over schedule and listen to our concerns. The Premier was so interested in the message that he made the Governor of South Carolina wait in the lobby until he was finished with us.

The day concluded with a casual reception at the Royal Glenora Club down the hill from the legislature. MLA’s and our volunteers got together in a more casual setting where no topic was taboo. We even offered to attend to whatever swing problems our MLA’s and staffers wanted to solve.

Bottom line: Everyone involved felt that this was a fantastic starting point for the Alberta Golf Industry to build momentum in developing a government relationship strategy, and to keep the dialogue moving forward to make sure our industry is involved in the decision making.