Cold Lake council is continuing a program that provides property tax relief to low-income senior homeowners, approving a data-sharing agreement with the province during its April 22 meeting to keep the rebate process simple and accessible.
The Seniors Rebate Program, or Policy 099-FN-07, was introduced in 2007 to help shield eligible seniors from annual municipal tax increases. Over time the program has been updated to make it easier to access and more inclusive.
“It’s a program that was set up to provide benefit to low-income seniors, and the current iteration fo the program provides a $100 tax rebate,” explained Kristy Isert, the city’s general manager of Corporate Services.
She noted that in 2022, the city eliminated a rule that previously required a tax increase of more that $5 for a senior to qualify. “Now, if you meet the income criteria under the Alberta Seniors Benefit Program, you’re eligible, regardless of whether your taxes go up.” That change increased participation from just two recipients in 2021 to 22 the following year.
The biggest boost came in 2023, when the city entered into an agreement with the Province of Alberta to automatically receive a list of seniors in Cold Lake who qualify for the Alberta Seniors Benefit. “That was probably the most significant change,” said Isert. “By sharing information with the province, we can automatically apply to rebate to qualify seniors’ tax bills. It removes the need for them to go through a complicated application process.”
The approach has helped more people benefit from the program, with 62 seniors receiving the rebate in both 2023 and 2024. The city has budgeted $6,500 for 2025 to continue supporting those recipients.
Council voted to renew the agreement with the province, ensuring the simplified process remains in place for another year.
