44th Parliament223Government response tabledMay 15, 2023e-4012e-4012 (Justice)PeterMcNicholHon.MichelleRempel GarnerCalgary Nose HillConservativeABMay 20, 2022, at 11:07 a.m. (EDT)July 19, 2022, at 11:07 a.m. (EDT)March 30, 2023May 15, 2023July 19, 2022Petition to the <Addressee type="6" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">Prime Minister</Addressee>Whereas:The Prime Minister’s anti-energy legislation, Bill C-69, has been ruled unconstitutional by Alberta’s highest court;For years the federal government has been violating provincial jurisdiction and sovereignty with Bill C-69; andThe province of Alberta has experienced years of destructive ideologically driven policies which intentionally undermine its industries resulting in mass layoffs, record levels of unemployment, and years of economic recessions.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Prime Minister to respect the ruling of the Alberta Court of Appeal by not seeking further appeals, recognize Bill C-69 as unconstitutional and immediately repeal this legislation.
Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULTFormer Bill C-69, now the Impact Assessment Act (the Act), came into force on August 28, 2019. The Act is designed to protect the environment, ensure sustainable projects can move forward safely, and instill public confidence in how the Government of Canada makes decisions concerning major resources projects.This Act delivered on an important promise that the Government of Canada made to Canadians to reform a flawed process. The Government worked with provincial and territorial governments, and Indigenous governments when developing the new legislation to ensure their views were considered and jurisdictional responsibilities were respected while working towards a common goal – meeting the needs of Canadians and preserving their livelihood for years to come.On January 17, 2020, the Attorney General of Alberta submitted a reference question to the Alberta Court of Appeal asking it to opine on the constitutionality of the Act and the Physical Activities Regulations (Project List). On May 10, 2022, the Alberta Court of Appeal issued its opinion that both the Act and the Project List intrude on provincial jurisdiction. The opinion of the Alberta Court of Appeal is advisory in nature and as such, the Act and its regulations remain in force.The Government of Canada is confident that the Act and the Project List are constitutional, which is why the Alberta Court of Appeal’s opinion was appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada on June 8, 2022. The Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments on March 21–22, 2023 and reserved its opinion, meaning it will be issued at a later date. The Government looks forward to reviewing the opinion in due course and will consider it carefully. In the meantime, the Government is committed to continuing to work with provinces, Indigenous partners and stakeholders on effective and efficient implementation of the Act and the Project List.           
Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other ActsAlbertaConstitutionalityEnvironmental assessmentFederal-provincial-territorial relations
44th Parliament223Government response tabledDecember 7, 2022441-00792441-00792 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABOctober 24, 2022December 7, 2022December 3, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government of Canada recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas. The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits. The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics. The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors. The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country. The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems. The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging. Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion. It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system.It is important that the Government of Canada receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective. 
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledNovember 17, 2022441-00734441-00734 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABOctober 4, 2022November 17, 2022November 22, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government of Canada recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas. The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits. The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics. The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors. The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country. The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems. The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging. Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion. It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system.It is important that the Government of Canada receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledNovember 16, 2022441-00724441-00724 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABOctober 3, 2022November 16, 2022November 23, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government of Canada recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas. The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits. The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics. The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors. The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country. The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems. The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging. Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion. It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system.It is important that the Government of Canada receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledAugust 17, 2022441-00578441-00578 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABJune 14, 2022August 17, 2022December 3, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government of Canada recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas. The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits. The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics. The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors. The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country. The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems. The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging. Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion. It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system.It is important that the Government of Canada receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledAugust 17, 2022441-00450441-00450 (Natural resources and energy)GarnettGenuisSherwood Park—Fort SaskatchewanConservativeABMay 11, 2022August 17, 2022February 12, 2021Petition to the House of CommonsWe, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas, Alberta's Industrial Heartland is one of the world's most attractive locations for chemical, petrochemical, oil, and gas investment.Whereas, Alberta's Industrial Heartland is Canada's largest hydrocarbon processing region and has 40+ companies, several being world scale, provide fuels, fertilizers, power, petrochemicals, and more to provincial, national and global consumers. Whereas, energy-related manufacturing plays a crucial role in Canadian energy development and security, and in providing jobs and opportunity for Canadians. Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to: 1. Advance policies which support growth in Alberta's Industrial Heartland and growth in energy-related manufacturing in general; and 2. Support permanent accelerated capital cost allowance for energy related manufacturing.
Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULTImportance of the energy sector/clean tech to Canada:
  • Canada’s energy sector is a key contributor to employment, economic growth and social development in Alberta and across Canada. As we move forward to transform our economy towards a net-zero future, workers and innovators are going to be an essential part of this transition building on the innovation and expertise across the energy sector. 
  • Building on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, our new strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, announced in December 2020, continues to advance the next generation of clean technology and grow the role of renewable energy. It includes $15 billion in investments for 64 strengthened and new federal policies, programs and investments to cut pollution and build a stronger, cleaner, more resilient and inclusive economy.
  • We are committed to promoting clean economic growth by helping Canadian businesses take advantage of the massive transition that Canada and the global economy must make to reach the target of net-zero emissions.
  • We are committed to continuing to work with the sector to grow the economy, and to better align climate change objectives, including achieving emissions reductions through innovation across the energy sector.  
Federal support for energy sectorGovernment of Canada investments:
  • $3 billion since 2016 to help Canadian companies innovate, develop new and improved technologies, reduce carbon pollution, strengthen competitiveness and create jobs. This includes investments in things like clean energy, clean hydrogen, carbon capture, use and storage, wind, solar, energy storage and smart grids.
  • Infrastructure improvements to help the transition away from coal, which will make it easier for affordable clean energy.
  • $750 million over five years for Sustainable Development Technology Canada to support startups and scale up companies to enable pre-commercial clean technologies to successfully demonstrate feasibility, as well as support early commercialization efforts.
  • $50 million to invest in technologies and $100 million to leverage private sector co-investments through the Clean Resource Innovation Network – a pan-Canadian network focused on ensuring Canada’s energy resources can be sustainably developed and integrated into the global energy supply.
  • Up to $1.72 billion, including funding to the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, and the Alberta Orphan Well Association, to clean up orphan and/or inactive oil and gas wells – creating thousands of jobs and having lasting environmental benefits.
  • Launching a Net-Zero Challenge for large emitters to support Canadian industries in developing and implementing plans to transition their facilities to net-zero emissions by 2050.
  • $3 billion in the Strategic Innovation Fund’s Net-Zero Accelerator Fund to rapidly expedite decarbonization projects with large emitters, scale-up clean technology and accelerate Canada’s industrial transformation across all sectors.
  • $1.5 billion in a Low-carbon and Zero-emissions Fuels Fund to increase the production and use of low-carbon fuels (e.g., hydrogen, biocrude, renewable natural gas and diesel, cellulosic ethanol).
  • $750-million Emission Reduction Funds provides loans for projects that reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions with a focus on methane and supports reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of fuel production.  Projects that entirely eliminate methane have a non-repayable portion.
      
Response by the Minister of Natural ResourcesSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P.The Government of Canada understands the importance of the region’s natural resources to Canadians, providing jobs and opportunities that contribute to the national economy. Canada will continue to play a key role in supplying the world’s future energy needs, as Canadians work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The Government of Canada recognizes that the energy sector in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland has a significant role to play. A strong energy sector will help to ensure that the environment is protected as it drives economic growth.Ongoing and proposed federal support to Alberta’s Industrial Heartland energy sector includes:
  • Investing $1.5 billion in the Clean Fuels Fund, to support the build out of new domestic production capacity for clean fuels (e.g. renewable natural gas, hydrogen, advanced ethanol, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuels), the establishment of sustainable biomass supply chains, and the development of essential binational codes and standards.
  • Developing a carbon capture, utilization and storage strategy to cut industrial emissions, including the introduction of a refundable investment tax credit for businesses that incur eligible CCUS expenses (starting in 2022), and investing $319M over seven years to support research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to advance the commercial viability of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies.
  • Unveiling the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada that lays out an ambitious framework to help cement hydrogen’s role in reducing emissions and leading to economic benefits across Canada while also positioning Canada as a leader in hydrogen. Vast natural gas and petroleum resources endow Canada with a competitive advantage in the production of clean hydrogen. Funding of $1.35 million through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) to modernize an Edmonton facility for Alberta firms to test their products and processes and ultimately to demonstrate the value of Canadian-made technologies for the global hydrogen industry.
  • Broadening the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s (CIB) role to invest in private sector-led infrastructure projects that will accelerate Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy. This will allow the CIB to invest in small modular reactors; clean fuel production; hydrogen production, transportation and distribution; and carbon capture, utilization and storage.
  • Advancing plans to eliminate plastic waste in the environment through the circular economy. The knowledge and experience of the petrochemical industry in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland will be instrumental in the development of valuable solutions using plastic waste. Developing the circular economy presents an opportunity for the energy sector to re-imagine its refining capacity.
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland plays an important role in Canada’s sustainable development. There are many positive examples of interrelated industries already working together in the region, benefitting from the Heartland’s unique characteristics, economic opportunities, and the high-quality renewable carbon feedstock produced by the energy sector. The Government of Canada will continue to work with the Government of Alberta and Heartland stakeholders to grow energy-related manufacturing in a way that adds value to the province’s hydrocarbon sector, and will support the region as it embraces an increasingly low-carbon future.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government of Canada recognizes the importance of Canada’s energy sector, which directly and indirectly supports hundreds of thousands of middle class families and their communities. As the Government of Canada works to build a more sustainable and resilient economy, an industrial advantage will depend on the speed and success of decarbonization efforts, ability to meet the demands of domestic and global consumers for low-carbon goods and services, and efforts to rapidly scale up low-carbon technologies. Canadian workers and businesses are well-positioned to lead the growth of a strong Canadian economy that thrives in a low-carbon world and provides sustainable jobs.Support for Energy-Related ManufacturingCanada’s industrial sectors – such as manufacturing, chemicals, cement and oil and gas – play a key role in the economy, and will be vital in the transition towards a net-zero future. Canada’s strengthened climate plan, “A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy”, was announced in December 2020 and contains 64 strengthened and new federal policies, programs and investments to reduce emissions and build a stronger, cleaner, more resilient and inclusive economy. The Plan includes $3 billion for the Strategic Innovation Fund – Net Zero Accelerator to support the adoption and deployment of decarbonization solutions in Canadian industry and $1.5 billion to increase the production and use of low- carbon fuels. A focus of the government as it transitions to a net-zero economy will be on supporting the rapid scale up of existing and new, strategic clean technologies and supporting the market for clean fuels in Canada, including through Canada’s Hydrogen Strategy. The government is committed to working with Canadian businesses and workers in advancing a net-zero economy. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies are an important tool for reducing emissions in high-emitting sectors, including Alberta’s energy sector, where other pathways to reduce emissions may be limited or unavailable. For that reason, CCUS technologies will play a role in helping Canada reach its emissions reduction target and net-zero emissions by 2050. Investments made in CCUS will help to ensure the sustainability of economic activity in Alberta’s energy sector and Industrial Heartland.The government proposed in Budget 2022 the final design of the investment tax credit for CCUS that was first announced in Budget 2021. The investment tax credit would be refundable, and provide significant support for business that incur eligible CCUS expenses starting in 2022, with the goal of reducing emissions from CCUS by at least 15 megatonnes of CO2 annually.The credit would provide support to reduce the large, upfront capital costs associated with the construction of CCUS, with a rate as high as 50 percent for equipment to capture CO2, and 60 percent for this equipment in the case of direct air capture projects. Tax support will be available for a broad range of CCUS applications across different industrial subsectors, including blue hydrogen projects, and could be used to help reduce emissions in oil and gas, chemical production, electricity generation, or other sectors. The investment tax credit would be available for CCUS projects to the extent that captured CO2 goes to an eligible use, which includes dedicated geological storage, or storage in concrete, but does not include enhanced oil recovery.In Budget 2021, the government also invested $319 million over seven years, starting in 2021-22, with $1.5 million in remaining amortization to support research, development, and demonstration activities for carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies through Natural Resources Canada.Support for Alberta and the Energy SectorCanada’s strengthened climate plan builds off previous measures targeted at the energy sector as part of the government’s COVID-19 economic response. Due to the unprecedented challenges for workers and companies in the energy sector as a result of the pandemic, the government allocated $2.8 billion to support energy sector workers and help the industry reduce its emissions. This includes $750 million for the Emissions Reduction Fund to help oil and gas companies reduce methane emissions, $1.7 billion to the Western provinces and Alberta Orphan Wells Association to support work to clean up orphan and inactive oil and gas wells, and $320 million for Newfoundland and Labrador to support workers in the offshore sector. This funding will sustain jobs in the energy sector, while also supporting the broader energy-related supply chain.Support through Accelerated Capital Cost AllowancesIn the 2018 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada introduced the Accelerated Investment Incentive, which provides an enhanced first-year capital cost allowance of up to three times the first-year allowance otherwise available for all businesses, including in the energy sector. For businesses in the manufacturing and processing sector, including energy transformation, the 2018 Fall Economic Statement also announced an enhanced first-year capital cost allowance of 100 percent for investments in machinery and equipment. These measures will be available for investments that become available for use before 2028, subject to a phase-out starting in 2024.
AlbertaDepreciation allowanceOil and gas
44th Parliament223Government response tabledJune 7, 2022441-00420441-00420 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABMay 9, 2022June 7, 2022November 23, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas.  The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits.  The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics.  The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors.  The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country.  The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems.  The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging.  Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion.  It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system. It is important that the Government receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledMay 18, 2022441-00348441-00348 (Natural resources and energy)GarnettGenuisSherwood Park—Fort SaskatchewanConservativeABApril 4, 2022May 18, 2022February 15, 2021Petition to the House of CommonsWe, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas, Alberta has faced systemic economic discrimination against its people and interests by Governments and ideologies that advocate for the shutting down or phasing out of Alberta's energy infrastructure. The consequences of these actions have been the loss of wealth, prosperity, opportunity, wellness, and the ability for Alberta to operate as an equal partner in confederation; Whereas, Albertans cannot remain silent in the face of this ongoing discrimination against its people, lands, and resources; Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the House of Commons to take the following actions to address the situation:1. Formally recognize Alberta's place as an equal partner in the federation. 2. Remove any barriers to Alberta being able to develop its resources without interference. 3. Ensure unfettered access to international markets for those resources.
Response by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and CommunitiesSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellThe Government of Canada recognizes that Alberta is indispensable to the social and economic fabric of Canada and it is committed to supporting Alberta families, workers and businesses. The Government provides significant financial support to all provinces and territories to support social programs. In 2021-22, Alberta will receive $6.8 billion through major transfers to help pay for health care, education and other social services.The Government of Canada is committed to fostering productive relationships with all provinces and territories, including Alberta.The Government recognizes that Albertans have faced economic challenges in recent years due to declines in commodity prices and limited capacity to export products, including oil.The Government took significant action to assist Alberta’s economy with the 2018 purchase of Trans Mountain Corporation, which is overseeing the completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion project, which will significantly increase Alberta’s oil export capacity.We are committed to get Canadian resources to new markets, and offer unwavering support to those in Canada’s natural resource sectors who have faced tough times recently.The Government of Canada has also worked very closely with the Government of Alberta to manage the current COVID-19 situation in a number of areas. The Government of Canada is providing support to Albertans and Alberta businesses, including the oil and gas industry.The Government recognizes that energy-producing regions are facing the compounding challenges of COVID-19 and the shock to oil prices. In addition to a range of programs to support individuals and businesses, the Government of Canada has notably provided $1 billion to the Government of Alberta to support the province’s work to clean up inactive oil and gas wells across the province and $200 million to the Alberta Orphan Wells Association to support its work to clean up orphan oil and gas wells and well sites across Alberta.We know that Canada only succeeds when every region and province – including Alberta – succeeds. 
AlbertaEnergy and fuelFederal-provincial-territorial relationsMarket access
44th Parliament223Government response tabledMay 16, 2022441-00329441-00329 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABApril 1, 2022May 16, 2022December 3, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas.  The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits.  The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics.  The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors.  The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country.  The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems.  The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging.  Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion.  It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system. It is important that the Government receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledMay 12, 2022441-00311441-00311 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABMarch 29, 2022May 12, 2022November 23, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas.  The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits.  The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics.  The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors.  The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country.  The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems.  The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging.  Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion.  It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system. It is important that the Government receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledMay 10, 2022441-00284441-00284 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABMarch 28, 2022May 10, 2022November 22, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas.  The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits.  The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics.  The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors.  The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country.  The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems.  The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging.  Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion.  It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system. It is important that the Government receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledApril 29, 2022441-00225441-00225 (Economy and finance)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABMarch 21, 2022April 29, 2022June 4, 2021Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas, Alberta is the single largest per capita contributor to the federal equalization program, contributing over $600 billion since the 1960s, while not having benefitted from the equalization program since 1962;Whereas, when the current equalization formula was set in 2014, Alberta was experiencing record economic growth;Whereas, since 2015, Alberta has experienced job losses and high unemployment, the COVID-19 pandemic, and an economic slowdown made worse by legislation introduced by the Liberal government, such as Bills C-69, C-48, and a failure to promote pipelines, which has had, and will continue to have, devastating impacts on Alberta's economy;Whereas, the Liberal government extended the equalization formula in a 2018 omnibus bill, despite Alberta experiencing massive drops in revenues;Whereas, Alberta has contributed billions of dollars while only seeing a fraction of that money returned through the federal fiscal stabilization program; andWhereas, a 2019 statement signed by every Canadian Premier called for a removal of the fiscal stabilization cap. Instead, the Liberals only increased the cap to $180 per person, which limits the amount of money that is returned to the province of Alberta.Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Support and quickly pass Bill C-263, The Equalization and Transfers Fairness Act. This bill helps fix inequalities in the federal fiscal stabilization program by removing the fiscal stabilization cap, strengthening referendums connected to equalization, and ensuring that the federal government can't unilaterally change the equalization formula; and2. Ensure that Alberta can still contribute to the prospering of all Canadians by advocating for and defending pipelines, ensuring that the TMX expansion is completed, Line 5's easement continues and advocating that the Keystone XL pipeline be built.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for expressing their views about federal transfers and pipelines.The Government of Canada recognizes that Alberta is indispensable to the social and economic fabric of Canada and it is committed to supporting Alberta families, workers and businesses. The government provides significant financial support to all provinces and territories to support social programs. In 2022-23, Alberta will receive $7.1 billion through major transfers to help pay for health care, education and other social services.   Through federal investments of $27.2 billion over five years in early learning and childcare, Alberta will receive almost $3.8 billion over the five year agreement. The government has also announced $625 million over four years for provinces and territories for an Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund. This additional funding will help support Alberta’s implementation of the Canada-wide early learning and childcare system.In addition to the funding regularly provided to provinces and territories through major transfers, the Government of Canada has provided significant direct support for provinces and territories to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately eight out of every ten dollars invested to support Canadians and fight COVID-19 has come from the federal government[1]. The government provided more than $1.9 billion in direct payments to the Government of Alberta through the Safe Restart Agreement, the Safe Return to Class Fund and the Essential Workers Support Fund. Budget 2021 reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting provinces and territories through COVID-19. For instance, subsequent to the passage of Bill C-30, the government is providing an additional $4 billion to continue supporting Canada’s health care systems, including $465.3 million for Alberta, as well as $1 billion for our country’s immunization plan, including $116.3 million for Alberta. The government has also announced a $2 billion Canada Heath Transfer top up to clear backlogs and support hundreds of thousands of additional surgeries. This would provide $232 million to Alberta. Moreover, the unprecedented investment by the Government of Canada to help stabilize the economy with broad measures to support businesses and individuals supported Albertans and Alberta businesses, and also benefited provincial and territorial tax bases from the economic effects of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Canada Emergency Business Account and other programs.The government recognized that energy-producing regions were facing the compounding challenges of COVID-19 and the impacts stemming from the 2020 shock to oil prices. The Government of Canada therefore announced significant funding to assist oil-producing provinces, including:
  • $1 billion to Alberta;
  • $400 million to Saskatchewan;
  • $320 million to Newfoundland and Labrador;
  • $120 million to British Columbia; and
  • A fully-repayable loan of $200 million to the Alberta Orphan Well Association, to clean up orphan and inactive oil and gas wells. 
In addition, the Government of Canada is providing support to conventional and offshore oil and gas companies through the Emissions Reduction Fund.Equalization is the Government of Canada’s transfer program used to reduce fiscal disparities among provinces. The principle of Equalization is set out in the Constitution, namely “to ensure that provincial governments have sufficient revenues to provide reasonably comparable levels of public services at reasonably comparable levels of taxation.” Since its inception in 1957, the Equalization program has provided benefits at some point in time to every province in Canada.  Equalization is funded entirely by the Government of Canada from general revenues; provincial governments make no contributions to the Equalization program. The allocation of Equalization payments is based on a measure of fiscal capacity, which represents the revenues a province could raise if it were to tax at the national average tax rate. Equalization supports provinces that have a lower-than-average ability to raise revenues by filling the gap between a province’s fiscal capacity and the national average fiscal capacity. Alberta does not receive Equalization because it has a higher-than-average ability to raise revenues, despite its recent economic challenges. Equalization reduces, but does not eliminate fiscal disparities; the fiscal capacities of non-receiving provinces remain above the national average. Equalization payments are calculated according to a formula set out in the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Actand in regulations made under the Act. They are calculated no later than three months before the beginning of a fiscal year. The details of the calculations are provided to provincial governments and are publicly available upon request.The legislation governing the Equalization program is reviewed on a periodic basis to ensure the program is meeting its objectives and using the most up-to-date and accurate measures in the determination of provincial entitlements. The Government of Canada consults regularly with provincial governments as part of the review process. For example, regular working level meetings were held between federal and provincial officials to discuss the 2019 renewal of Equalization.  Provinces were also consulted on the renewal at the December 2017 Federal-Provincial-Territorial Finance Ministers’ Meeting. Equalization was renewed for a five-year period beginning April 1, 2019 through the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 1, which received royal assent on June 21, 2018. Improvements to the accuracy and efficiency of the calculation of entitlements were made through amendments to the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations, 2007, which were published in the Canada Gazette Part II, Vol. 152, No. 14 on July 11, 2018. The Government of Canada will continue to work collaboratively with all provinces on Equalization in the lead-up to the next renewal of the program, which must take place before March 31, 2024.Another program – the Fiscal Stabilization Program – provides financial assistance to provinces in the event of sudden, significant declines in revenues, even if the province does not qualify for Equalization. The program provides financial assistance to any province faced with a year-over-year decrease of more than 5 percent in its non-resource revenues or of more than 50 percent in its resource revenues, with adjustments for interactions between the revenue sources.  Payments were capped at $60 per person for a given fiscal year.The Fiscal Stabilization program was last reviewed in 1995 and, following calls from provincial and territorial governments and academics for the program to be modernized, the Government of Canada proposed reforms in the Fall Economic Statement 2020 which were implemented by Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures. Specifically, the government indexed the maximum payment of $60 per capita, which was set in 1987, to Canadian economic growth per person since that time. As a result, the cap has nearly tripled to about $170 per person in 2020-21, and will grow in line with Canadian economic growth per person in the future, raising it to about $180 per person in 2021-22, for example. In years when the economy declines, the cap will remain at its preceding year’s level. For Alberta in particular, the maximum payment for 2020-21 has been raised from $265 million to about $748 million as a result of this change. The Minister of Finance retains the discretion to extend interest-free loans for eligible revenue declines above the cap, if requested by a province. In addition, the Government of Canada made technical changes to modernize and simplify the program. [1] Based on Finance Canada calculations of federal pandemic support and provincial and territorial government announcements. Other publicly available analysis has been conducted at a disaggregated jurisdictional level, such as in Still Picking up the Tab, released in August 2021 by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Response by the Minister of Natural ResourcesSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P.Pipelines remain the safest, most efficient way to transport petroleum products to markets.The Government of Canada consistently supported the Keystone XL project, and advocated for it at the highest levels of the U.S. government. The government is focused on creating conditions to attract investment, create jobs, and get Canada’s resources to export markets.To that end, the Government of Canada remains committed to the TMX project, which has created over 13,500 jobs in B.C. and Alberta, and will provide access to offshore markets.With regards to Line 5, it provides a reliable source of energy for Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Quebec. A shutdown of this pipeline would have a profound impact on jobs and supply chains, raise the cost of supplies in the region, and take a financial toll on many Canadian and U.S. refineries and businesses.Canada recognizes that Line 5 is a top priority issue affecting Canada’s national economy and energy supply. The Government of Canada has continuously advocated for the importance of Line 5 through engagements with the United States Administration. The Government of Canada is also collaborating with the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec, and industry and labour sectors. Canada has made every effort in its engagements with the United States to resolve the Line 5 issue informally. However, these efforts were unsuccessful. As a result, in October 2021, Canada formally invoked the 1977 Transit Pipelines Treaty. The government is now in negotiations with the United States to ensure respect for its treaty obligations.Canada also remains active in monitoring and intervening to protect the continued safe operation of Line 5 in the face of litigation in United States federal court, submitting amicus curiae in May 2021, and February 2022, and making additional submissions to the court.Canada is supportive of all measures that would increase the pipeline’s environmental safety, which includes placing a portion of Line 5 in a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. The Great Lakes Tunnel Project would help make a safe pipeline even safer and continue to support the secure and efficient transportation of critical oil and gas products to the region and beyond.
AlbertaC-263, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (equalization)Equalization paymentsOil and gasPipeline transportation
44th Parliament223Government response tabledApril 29, 2022441-00223441-00223 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABMarch 21, 2022April 29, 2022November 22, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas.  The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits.  The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics.  The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors.  The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country.  The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems.  The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging.  Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion.  It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system. It is important that the Government receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledMarch 30, 2022441-00182441-00182 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABFebruary 14, 2022March 30, 2022November 22, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas.  The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits.  The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics.  The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors.  The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less isolated areas of the country.  The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems.  The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging.  Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion.  It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system. It is important that the Government receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 31, 2022441-00110441-00110 (Economy and finance)GarnettGenuisSherwood Park—Fort SaskatchewanConservativeABDecember 16, 2021January 31, 2022February 15, 2021Petition to the House of CommonsWe, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas, Alberta has historically been the economic driver of Canada, contributing over $200 billion in the last ten years despite unprecedented economic issues;Whereas, anti-energy and resource development policy by the current Liberal government has significantly contributed to these unprecedented economic issues that continue to impact Alberta;Whereas, in 2019 the Liberal government locked in the unfair equalization formula until 2024 without consultation or negotiations;Whereas, the changes made to the Government of Canada's Fiscal Stabilization Program did not properly account for the hundreds of billions of dollars Alberta has contributed to Federal Revenues, amounting to a slap in the face of Albertans;Whereas, the unemployment rate in Alberta continues to be amongst the highest in Canada;Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to immediately take action by:1. Acknowledging the oversized economic contribution Alberta has made to Canada and the significant economic hardship the province is currently facing. 2. Immediately re-opening the negotiations for the equalization formula with the provinces.
Response by the Prime MinisterSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Jennifer O'ConnellThe Government recognizes that Alberta is indispensable to the social and economic fabric of Canada and it iscommitted to supporting Alberta families, workers and businesses. The Government provides significantfinancial support to all provinces and territories to support social programs. In 2021-22, Alberta will receive$6.8 billion through major transfers to help pay for health care, education and other social services.The Government of Canada is committed to fostering productive relationships with all provinces andterritories, including Alberta.The Government recognizes that Albertans have faced economic challenges in recent years due to declines incommodity prices and limited capacity to export products, including oil.Equalization is the Government of Canada’s transfer program used to reduce fiscal disparities amongprovinces. The principle of Equalization is set out in the Constitution, namely “to ensure that provincialgovernments have sufficient revenues to provide reasonably comparable levels of public services atreasonably comparable levels of taxation.” Equalization is funded entirely by the federal government fromgeneral revenues; provincial governments make no contributions to the Equalization program.Alberta does not receive Equalization because it has a higher-than-average ability to raise revenues, despite itsrecent economic challenges. Equalization reduces, but does not eliminate fiscal disparities; the fiscal capacitiesof non-receiving provinces remain above the national average.The current Equalization formula was introduced in 2007 by the previous Conservative government. In 2018,the federal government renewed the equalization program without changes.The Government of Canada will continue to work collaboratively with all provinces on Equalization in thelead-up to the next renewal of the program, which must take place before March 31, 2024. 
AlbertaEconomic slowdownEqualization formula
44th Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 31, 2022441-00023441-00023 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABDecember 1, 2021January 31, 2022November 22, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas.  The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits.  The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics.  The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors.  The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
 The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less-isolated areas of the country.  The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems.  The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging.  Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion.  It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system. It is important that the Government receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction
44th Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 31, 2022441-00005441-00005 (Taxation)ArnoldViersenPeace River—WestlockConservativeABNovember 24, 2021January 31, 2022November 22, 2021PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONSWe, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:Whereas:
  • The towns of Fox Creek and Swan Hills are rural and remote communities located in northern Alberta;
  • Extended travel times, heating costs and other expenses makes life more expensive in these communities;
  • The residents of Fox Creek and Swan Hills have to travel great distances to access groceries and shopping centres;
  • The intermediate prescribed zone in Alberta runs across an arbitrary geographical line and fails to consider other factors including access to other communities and cost of living; and
  • Neither Fox Creek and Swan Hills are a part of the prescribed northern or intermediate zones of Alberta. Therefore, the residents are unable to access the Northern resident's deductions.
Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:1) Include Fox Creek and Swan Hills as communities within the prescribed intermediate zone; and2) Allow the residents of these communities to claim residency deductions for living in northern Alberta.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandThe Government recognizes the challenges facing those who live in northern or remote regions. The intent of the Northern Residents Deduction is to assist Canada’s northern and isolated regions in drawing skilled labour to their communities by providing recognition for the additional costs faced by residents of these areas.The current zonal system of tax benefits for northern residents was established following an extensive review of the former community-based system by the Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas.  The Task Force held extensive consultations across the country and concluded that determining eligibility for the tax deductions for residents of northern and isolated areas on a community-by-community basis was arbitrary and divisive – residents of neighbouring communities were being treated differently for tax purposes, even though they often shared common workplaces, services, and cultural and recreational facilities.In October 1989, the Task Force recommended replacing the community-by-community approach with a zonal approach, where only communities within a “Northern Zone” would qualify for tax benefits.  The boundaries of the Northern Zone were delineated with a view to ensuring that communities in the zone had similar characteristics.  The Task Force used objective criteria to compare communities on the basis of isolation, nordicity, community characteristics, and environmental factors.  The Task Force also attempted to minimize border delineation problems by having as much separation as possible between qualifying and non-qualifying communities. 
  • For example, the Task Force considered the distance of a community from the nearest urban centre with a population of at least 10,000. Communities at least 500 kilometers from such an urban centre, or with no road access, were scored as the most remote.
The Task Force recommended a Northern Zone and, following further consultations, an Intermediate Zone was added to bridge the gap between the Northern Zone and the less-isolated areas of the country.  The approach used by the Task Force to design the Northern Zone was also applied in developing the Intermediate Zone: the same ranking system was used, and efforts were made to minimize border problems.  The new system of Northern Benefits took effect starting in 1991.It was recognized that the Intermediate Zone, in relation to the Northern Zone, covers regions in which the communities are characterized as being more populated, in greater proximity and less homogeneous, thereby making the task of setting borders more challenging.  Given this reality, regardless of where the borders are set, there would inevitably be communities across the country that would be disappointed with their exclusion.  It was determined that the final border design incorporated fair trade-offs in difficult circumstances that were deemed workable in a broad-based, national tax system. It is important that the Government receive the views of Canadians on the tax system. This helps to focus our efforts on improvements to ensure that the tax system is fair and effective.
AlbertaNorthern residents deduction