Whereas section 5f of the Assessment Act - Prescribed Classes of Property Regulation B.C. Reg. 43881 mandates that land or improvements used for transporting of products or used for the storage of products are classified as Class 5 Light Industry, but specifically excludes land or improvements being used principally as an outlet for the sale of a finished product to a purchaser for purposes of his or her own consumption; And whereas this legislation creates unfair taxation from industrial parks which are a heavy burden on local government infrastructure through heavy trucking activity and movement of product: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to repeal section 5f of the Assessment Act - Prescribed Classes of Property Regulation B.C. Reg. 43881 to create fair taxation from industrial parks.
Ministry of Finance The Province is aware of the issue that local governments have raised regarding property assessment and tax fairness for industrial parks. BC Assessment is also aware of the issue, and the Province would encourage any municipality that has concerns regarding the assessment of a specific property reach out to BC Assessment for assistance. At this time, the Province has no plans to explore the reclassification of industrial parks e.g., reclass to Class 5. However, in the future, should the Province decide to review this issue UBCMs view will be taken into consideration.