Small and medium-size businesses could benefit the most from proposed changes to Saskatchewan’s property tax model based on an expert study commissioned by the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities (SUMA) that outlines how the model could be made more simple, fair and transparent.

The third-party report was prepared by the International Property Tax Institute (IPTI) to undertake an independent review of the way in which the property assessment in Saskatchewan operates compared to best practices and approaches from other jurisdictions.

In November 2021, the Saskatoon Chamber advanced three key recommendations focusing on competition and stability; equity and simplification; and transparency to provincial and municipal officials. We’re pleased to see that the report reflects our longstanding recommendations for change.

This month, our Task Force is meeting to review the report in detail and prepare the Chamber’s response to its recommendations which will be lobbied to the City and Province. A big thank you to these Task Force members for helping us dig in and change a property tax model that desperately needs fixing:

Shawn Moen, 9 Mile Legacy Brewing Co.

Grace Muzyka, Brunsdon Lawrek & Associates

Tanis Taylor, CCA Consulting

Tom Deibert, Colliers International

Travis Horne, Independent Consultant

Cameron Choquette, Saskatchewan Landlord Association