Networking and Information for Alberta's Property Tax Experts

April 2025 | Issue 33

“The earth laughs in flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

President's Message

Greetings as we “spring forward” and continue supporting our local governments to deliver essential, efficient and reliable services in our communities.

As anticipated, the landscape for 2025 is evolving with new technologies, changing legislation, economic pressures and the desire to provide more education to our ratepayers. This growing complexity presents new demands, and elevates the importance of collaboration across municipalities, professions, levels of government and sectors. Equally important is evaluating business processes, adapting and pivoting when necessary.

The Board has been actively working on many activities ranging from participating in legislative reviews, processing membership renewals, increased growth, education and conference planning, increased job postings, member engagement and networking. I would like to spotlight a few of the initiatives:

In February, we submitted our response for the Business Improvement Area Regulation Policy Review on unproclaimed Municipal Government Act (MGA) amendments dating back to 2017 along with other recommendations.
In March, we engaged in an interview with MNP LLP and Municipal Affairs on the Land and Property Rights Tribunal (LRPT) Business Process Review. We offered our insights and perspectives related to user experience to help identify areas of potential enhancements. We also want to hear your voice and invite our members to share your experiences. The survey is open until April 18^th, please use this opportunity to help legislative bodies improve processes that may impact you.
On April 2, AMTPA and AAA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the purpose of fostering collaboration and promoting strong working interactions on initiatives that impact each other. Cate Watt, President of AAA and myself signed the Memorandum at the opening ceremonies at the AAA Conference. Assessment and Taxation are so closely integrated, one simply does not succeed without the other.
April 2-5, we attended the Alberta Assessors Association Conference. I had the privilege of providing the welcoming to this hardworking group of professionals. The AMTPA booth fostered positive conversations and had amazing engagement and support.
Our conference committee has been working diligently at delivering an amazing conference filled with great learning and networking opportunities. The conference is in Calgary on September 24-26, 2025 with registration opening April 14^th. We look forward to seeing you there! You can assist by either having your municipality be a sponsor, connect us with other potential sponsors, or donate a door prize. Please see the website for packages or reach out for more information.

Some current events that are of importance to note include:

Potential Canada Post Strike. The union will be in a legal strike position by May 22, 2025. This has some municipalities, such as Lethbridge, mailing out tax notices earlier with a mail day of May 13, 2025.
NSF regulations from the Federal Government for major banks capping the NSF fee at a maximum of $10 effective March 2026. Full details on the new regulations was published in the Canada Gazette on March 26, 2025. Some municipalities are now looking at voluntarily following the cap, making changes to their fees and charges bylaw and budget adjustments to be in alignment for 2026.
Ratepayer communication on the increased education levies.

A reminder for everyone to engage in the Members Q & A Forum to collaborate with your counterparts, share ideas and problem solve together. Topics currently include the front-page display of the Tax Notices for the education levy, tax recovery, Canada Post Strike, NSF fee cap, Bill 20 & affordable housing.

On behalf of the Board, we are looking forward to “springing into action” and continued representation to an experienced and engaged membership of tax professionals!

Happy Easter,

Denise Schmaltz

President

We've Missed You!

If it’s been a while since you’ve heard from us, we totally understand — life gets busy! But before you think we’ve forgotten about you, let’s check one quick thing: your junk folder. Yes, sometimes our emails like to take a detour there!

So, go ahead and take a peek in your spam or junk folder to make sure you’re not missing out on all the exciting updates and perks we’ve been sending your way! We promise, it’ll be worth it!

Thanks for being part of our association – we can’t wait to reconnect!

LPRT Process Review Survey

The Government of Alberta has launched a Business Process Review of the LPRT, providing an important opportunity for you to share your experiences and insights.

As a valued member of the Alberta Municipal Taxation Professionals Association, your feedback is important.

Please take a few moments to complete this survey to add your expertise and ensure our profession’s voice is heard.

Please note that policy review or review of LPRT decisions are out of scope of this engagement. Should you have any questions regarding the scope, objective or reporting related to this project, please contact Municipal Affairs at MA.LPRTProcessReview@gov.ab.ca.

Survey: https://www.mnp.ca/en/clients/public-sector/lprt-process-review
Deadline: April 18, 2025

Thank you for your participation!

Important Update: New Mailing Address

We would like to inform our members that AMTPA has updated its mailing address. Please make sure to use the new address for all future correspondence.

New Mailing Address:

Alberta Municipal Taxation Professionals Association

c/o Denise Schmaltz

777 Taylor Rd SE

Medicine Hat, AB T1B 4B7

If you have already mailed something to our previous address, rest assured that we will still receive it. We appreciate your attention to this update. If you any questions, please feel free to reach out!

AMTPA & AAA MOU Signing!

On April 2, 2025, the Alberta Assessors' Association (AAA) and the Alberta Municipal Tax Professionals Association (AMTPA) proudly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our shared commitment to excellence in municipal assessment and taxation.

This MOU represents our mutual dedication to fostering stronger collaboration and promoting effective partnerships on initiatives that impact both organizations. By joining forces, we aim to enhance our collective ability to address the challenges and opportunities that arise within the fields of assessment and taxation, ultimately delivering greater value to our communities.

We are excited about the possibilities this partnership brings and look forward to the positive outcomes that will emerge from our continued cooperation. Stay tuned for more updates as we work together to create stronger, more efficient services for municipalities across Alberta.

2025 Events/Webinars

Get ready for the 2025 AMTPA Annual Conference, Sept 24-26 at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary! Think inspiring talks, meaningful connections, and plenty of time to mix, mingle, and make memories. Don’t miss your chance to be part of our most exciting event yet!

Partnering with the AMTPA Annual Conference offers your organization meaningful exposure to local government leaders and professionals, as well as excellent networking opportunities. We offer a range of sponsorship packages to suit your goals—visit our website for full details or email assistant@amtpa.ca

Become a Member

Membership Benefit

Discounted Rates for municipalities that register multiple employees
Webinars on key industry topics
Financial System User Groups for shared knowledge and support
Reduced Conference Registration Fees
Exclusive Members-Only Access on AMTPA.ca
NEW! Mentorship Program to connect and grow within the community and your role

Is there anything else we can do to better support you? We invite you to share your ideas and suggestions with us at assistant@amtpa.ca. We’re dedicated to collaborating with you to ensure your needs are met and to enhance your overall experience.

Apply Today!

Membership Renewals were due on January 31, 2025!

New Job Postings!

The AMTPA Job Posting page is a valuable resource for municipalities seeking skilled and experienced candidates to support their growing teams.

This service is available to all municipal entities in Alberta for a fee of $100 per listing. Job postings are featured on our website and promoted in our member newsletter.

For any questions about job postings, please contact info@amtpa.ca.

Please note: Job postings will remain on the website for one month or until the application closing date, whichever comes first.

Current Jobs Posted:

Administrative Assistant, Assessment - Starland County

Exemption Specialist - City of Calgary

Director of Assessment Operations - City of Edmonton

Assessor - Strathcona County

Submit a Job

Beyond the Association

Alberta Registries for Land Online (ARLO)

We’re excited to announce that you can now easily order digital copies of certified land titles through the Alberta Land Registry website! Get all the details about a property’s owner(s) and any registered documents, including mortgages, easements, and liens.

For more information or to place an order, visit: Land Registry Alberta

The Principles of Administrative Justice (FOAJ)

AAA is hosting a Principles of Administrative Justice (FOAJ) virtual course at the beginning of May. This is an introductory or refresher course for administrative decision-makers, investigators, staff, and advocates. Administrative decision-makers prepare and deliver this course. Our goal is to provide a better understanding of the broader roles and responsibilities of administrative decision-makers and the tribunal and administrative law processes.

Please visit here, for more information!

Discover the Question Forum and Topics of Discussion Page!

As an AMTPA member, you have exclusive access to our Question Forum and Other Topics of Discussion page—a dedicated space to connect with fellow members, share insights, and seek advice.

Whether you’re tackling a tricky property tax issue, looking for best practices, or tips an tricks for your current software, this tool is here to support you. It’s a great way to tap into the collective knowledge of our community and strengthen connections with association members across Alberta.

Make the most of your membership by participating today! Share your questions, contribute to discussions, and collaborate to find solutions together.

Visit the page now and start a conversation!

FAQs

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How can I add members to our municipality's membership?

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