Whereas the Local Government Act, Section 644 2a, specifies that a utility company defined as an electric light, electric power, telephone, water, gas or closed-circuit television company is to be taxed annually by municipalities not including Regional Districts or First Nations at the rate of 1 of its revenue from subscribers; And whereas the legislation does not account for internet and cellular revenues flowing to telecommunications companies: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province that this outdated section of the Local Government Act be updated to better reflect contemporary consumer choices by adding internet and cellular services to the definition of utility companies, and reverse the trend of declining municipal revenues from the 1 in-lieu-of utilities tax.
