Premier Jason Kenney announced new measures on Monday to help Albertans get through the coronavirus crisis..The global pandemic combined with the meltdown in oil prices, Kenney said “people are very anxious about their bank accounts.”.The government will immediately cancel the decision made in Budget 2020 and will freeze education property taxes at last year’s level..Reversing the 3.4 per cent population and inflation adjustment will save Alberta households and businesses about $87 million in 2020-21, which means $55 million for households and $32 million for employers..It will also give business six months to pay those taxes, meaning $458 million will be staying in the hands of business. Kenney encouraged real estate companies to pass these deferrals onto renters..Meanwhile, private sector employers will have immediate financial relief by deferring WCB premiums until early 2021, effectively for one year. Employers who have already paid their WCB premium payment for 2020 are eligible for a rebate or credit..For small and medium businesses, the government will cover 50 per cent of the premium when it is due. Large employers will also receive a break by having their 2020 WCB premium payments deferred until 2021, at which time their premiums will be due..Paying 50 per cent of small and medium private sector WCB premiums for 2020 will cost government approximately $350 million..Kenney again told returning Snowbirds that they must isolate for 14 days..And he blasted people taking advantage of the crisis through scams..“There is a special place in hell” reserved for those people, Kenney said..“The book will be thrown at them,” Kenney said urging people who are aware of scams to report them to the government..Franco Terrazzano, Alberta Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation was pleased with the news..“It’s good to see Premier Kenney delivering relief when it’s needed the most. Keeping more money in Albertans’ pockets is the simplest and fastest way for governments to help families and businesses keep the lights on. All municipal governments need to follow suit and reduce property tax burdens because struggling families and businesses can’t afford big tax bills,” he said..In other developments Monday:.• “You all think you’re invincible. You’re not. Enough is enough,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “Go home and stay home.”.• B.C. announced a $5B package to deal with coronavirus outbreak, $2.8B on people and services, $2.2B for businesses and recovery..• WATCH: B.C. residents in high rises applaud for health care workers..• Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a shutdown of all non-essential services in Ontario starting Wednesday as province reports 78 new cases. City of Toronto declared a state of emergency..• New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs called for the feds to introduce its emergency act. Kenney said he doesn’t see a need for that at the moment..• WHO says more than 300,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported worldwide..• Queen to give national address for only 4th time in reign amid Covid-19 crisis ..• Air Transat lays off 3,600 employees, or 70% of its workforce..• WATCH: Police officers in Spain played music and sang to residents confined to their homes under a nationwide lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak..• WATCH: Couple get married in strange wedding:.• Calgary Expo postponed due to COVID-19 spread..• British government to stop all gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with..• Memorial Cup has been cancelled..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard..dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: @Nobby
Premier Jason Kenney announced new measures on Monday to help Albertans get through the coronavirus crisis..The global pandemic combined with the meltdown in oil prices, Kenney said “people are very anxious about their bank accounts.”.The government will immediately cancel the decision made in Budget 2020 and will freeze education property taxes at last year’s level..Reversing the 3.4 per cent population and inflation adjustment will save Alberta households and businesses about $87 million in 2020-21, which means $55 million for households and $32 million for employers..It will also give business six months to pay those taxes, meaning $458 million will be staying in the hands of business. Kenney encouraged real estate companies to pass these deferrals onto renters..Meanwhile, private sector employers will have immediate financial relief by deferring WCB premiums until early 2021, effectively for one year. Employers who have already paid their WCB premium payment for 2020 are eligible for a rebate or credit..For small and medium businesses, the government will cover 50 per cent of the premium when it is due. Large employers will also receive a break by having their 2020 WCB premium payments deferred until 2021, at which time their premiums will be due..Paying 50 per cent of small and medium private sector WCB premiums for 2020 will cost government approximately $350 million..Kenney again told returning Snowbirds that they must isolate for 14 days..And he blasted people taking advantage of the crisis through scams..“There is a special place in hell” reserved for those people, Kenney said..“The book will be thrown at them,” Kenney said urging people who are aware of scams to report them to the government..Franco Terrazzano, Alberta Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation was pleased with the news..“It’s good to see Premier Kenney delivering relief when it’s needed the most. Keeping more money in Albertans’ pockets is the simplest and fastest way for governments to help families and businesses keep the lights on. All municipal governments need to follow suit and reduce property tax burdens because struggling families and businesses can’t afford big tax bills,” he said..In other developments Monday:.• “You all think you’re invincible. You’re not. Enough is enough,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “Go home and stay home.”.• B.C. announced a $5B package to deal with coronavirus outbreak, $2.8B on people and services, $2.2B for businesses and recovery..• WATCH: B.C. residents in high rises applaud for health care workers..• Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a shutdown of all non-essential services in Ontario starting Wednesday as province reports 78 new cases. City of Toronto declared a state of emergency..• New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs called for the feds to introduce its emergency act. Kenney said he doesn’t see a need for that at the moment..• WHO says more than 300,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported worldwide..• Queen to give national address for only 4th time in reign amid Covid-19 crisis ..• Air Transat lays off 3,600 employees, or 70% of its workforce..• WATCH: Police officers in Spain played music and sang to residents confined to their homes under a nationwide lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak..• WATCH: Couple get married in strange wedding:.• Calgary Expo postponed due to COVID-19 spread..• British government to stop all gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with..• Memorial Cup has been cancelled..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard..dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: @Nobby