Big Stories Blog

We are making Canmore a better place to call home.

Our mountain town moves fast. We are keeping you in the loop with the Big Stories unfolding in our community with a new storytelling approach to help you connect the dots.

Every year, we will feature six major themes that reflect our key projects, so you can understand the ‘why’ behind the work you see around town. Each theme has a unique icon that you can watch for as we roll-out initiatives that relate to each one.

Explore our 2024/5 stories and follow our blog to stay informed about the major work to increase the quality of life in Canmore in alignment with your Council's priorities.

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A Win for Housing Affordability in Canmore: the Court Upholds the Livability Tax Program

Date posted:

On April 28, 2025, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta released its decision on a judicial review brought forward by individuals associated with Fair Future Canmore, challenging the validity of the Division of Class 1 Property Bylaw (the Livability Tax Program). 

We are pleased that the court has upheld the bylaw, allowing us to move ahead with the Livability Tax Program starting in the 2026 tax year.

“This is a big win for Canmore. The court has validated Council’s authority to enact this bylaw as designed to support the needs of our community. While encouraging primary residency, the Livability Tax Program will directly fund the creation of non-market homes. We look forward to this program moving forward with full legal authority behind us.”

Mayor Sean Krausert

We are carefully reviewing the ruling to fully understand what it means for implementation and will share more information once we determine our next steps. 

The Livability Tax Program is one tool in our broader efforts to support affordable housing in our community. We remain committed to improving housing affordability and livability in Canmore and will continue to provide updates as the program moves forward. 

Learn more about our work to take action on housing crisis.

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