Staying competitive in Kamloops is getting progressively harder Domtar officials say.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
June 15, 2016 - 12:00 PM
KAMLOOPS - Domtar appreciates the tax cut, but would like more help from the city.
The pulp company is asking for additional steps to be taken to deal with Kamloops’ high industrial tax rate..
“Kamloops continues to have [sic] highest industrial taxes in British Columbia among municipalities that host our competitors,” manager Carol Lapointe says in a letter to council. “This continues to put our operation at distinct competitive disadvantage.”
He says the tax reduction for heavy industry was a move in the right direction, but wants the city to consider additional steps to bring Kamloops' rate in line with other municipalities.
Kamloops council voted to reduce the tax rate for heavy industry to $74 per $1,000 from $78.70, which it has been for the past three years.
Charts accompanying Lapointe’s letter show major industry has paid between $6.24 million and $7.21 million every year since 2006. While the rate has been the same for three years, the total dollar amount decreased to $6.63 million in 2015 from $7.21 in 2013.
Domtar, along with other heavy industry taxpayers Lafarge and Tolko, has regularly asked for a lower tax rate from city council over the past several years.
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