Alberta
RCMP Major Crimes Unit investigate suspicious death – Adam Pearson still wanted
RCMP Major Crimes Unit investigate suspicious death – Adam Pearson still wanted
Grande Prairie, Alta. – The RCMP Major Crimes Unit are continuing to seek public assistance in locating Adam Pearson (26) who is wanted for the First Degree Murder of Cody Michaloski.
In October 2019, the Major Crimes Unit launched an investigation in the death of Cody Michaloski. The investigation led to first degree murder charges against Benjamin Pearson (25) who was arrested in Kelowna, and Adam Pearson, who has still not been located.
Alberta RCMP Major Crimes are asking the public’s assistance in locating Adam Pearson. It is believed that he may have tried to alter his appearance, including dying his hair. Pearson is known to have ties to the Toronto area, and throughout B.C. and Alberta. Information provided to date is that he uses Air B & Bs and hotel/motels, and might go by the nickname “Red”.
Please do not approach Pearson, but contact the Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5701 or your local police, if you see him or know his whereabouts. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
Background:
May 28, 2020
Alberta RCMP Major Crimes RCMP investigate suspicious death – Update #2
Kelowna, B.C. – Following a lengthy homicide investigation into the death of Cody Michaloski in October 2019, in Grande Prairie, Alta., Alberta RCMP Major Crimes executed two search warrants and an arrest warrant on May 27, 2020, in Kelowna, BC.
Benjamin Pearson (25) of Kelowna was arrested on May 27, 2020, in Kelowna. He is charged with the First Degree Murder of Cody Michaloski. Pearson’s arrest was made possible with the work of the South East District, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – British Columbia (CFSEU-B.C.), and the assistance of, South East District RCMP Emergency Response Team and the Kelowna RCMP Forensic Identification Section.
Benjamin Pearson is awaiting his return to Alberta for a bail hearing into this matter before the Edmonton Provincial Courts at a date yet to be determined.
Alberta RCMP Major Crimes have also obtained an arrest warrant for Adam Pearson (26), whose whereabouts are unknown, for the First Degree Murder of Cody Michaloski.
Alberta RCMP Major Crimes are asking the public’s assistance in locating Adam Pearson. Please do not approach Adam Pearson, but contact the Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5701 or your local police.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.”
Further updates will be provide when additional information is available.
October 15, 2019
Grande Prairie RCMP investigate suspicious death – Update #1
Grande Prairie, Alta. – The adult male victim has been identified as Cody Michaloski (28) of Grande Prairie. Michaloski’s family has been notified. The Edmonton medical examiner completed an autopsy and determined the death to be a homicide.
Edmonton Major Crimes Unit continues to investigate this incident.
No further information is available at this time.
Oct. 13, 2019
Grande Prairie RCMP investigate suspicious death
Grande Prairie, Alta. – In the early morning hours of October 13, 2019 Grande Prairie RCMP responded to a residence in an apartment building on Poplar Drive.
On arrival the RCMP discovered the body of an adult male. RCMP Major Crimes has taken carriage of the investigation. The scene is secure and there is no concern for public safety.
Next of kin notification has been completed. No further details will be released at this time. The investigation is ongoing and an update will be provided once new information becomes available.
Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to contact the Grande Prairie RCMP Detachment at 780-830-5700 or call your local police detachment. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com ( http://www.p3tips.com/ ) or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
Alberta
Alberta government should create flat 8% personal and business income tax rate in Alberta
From the Fraser Institute
By Tegan Hill
If the Smith government reversed the 2015 personal income tax rate increases and instituted a flat 8 per cent tax rate, it would help restore Alberta’s position as one of the lowest tax jurisdictions in North America
Over the past decade, Alberta has gone from one of the most competitive tax jurisdictions in North America to one of the least competitive. And while the Smith government has promised to create a new 8 per cent tax bracket on personal income below $60,000, it simply isn’t enough to restore Alberta’s tax competitiveness. Instead, the government should institute a flat 8 per cent personal and business income tax rate.
Back in 2014, Alberta had a single 10 per cent personal and business income tax rate. As a result, it had the lowest top combined (federal and provincial/state) personal income tax rate and business income tax rate in North America. This was a powerful advantage that made Alberta an attractive place to start a business, work and invest.
In 2015, however, the provincial NDP government replaced the single personal income tax rate of 10 percent with a five-bracket system including a top rate of 15 per cent, so today Alberta has the 10th-highest personal income tax rate in North America. The government also increased Alberta’s 10 per cent business income tax rate to 12 per cent (although in 2019 the Kenney government began reducing the rate to today’s 8 per cent).
If the Smith government reversed the 2015 personal income tax rate increases and instituted a flat 8 per cent tax rate, it would help restore Alberta’s position as one of the lowest tax jurisdictions in North America, all while saving Alberta taxpayers $1,573 (on average) annually.
And a truly integrated flat tax system would not only apply a uniform tax 8 per cent rate to all sources of income (including personal and business), it would eliminate tax credits, deductions and exemptions, which reduce the cost of investments in certain areas, increasing the relative cost of investment in others. As a result, resources may go to areas where they are not most productive, leading to a less efficient allocation of resources than if these tax incentives did not exist.
Put differently, tax incentives can artificially change the relative attractiveness of goods and services leading to sub-optimal allocation. A flat tax system would not only improve tax efficiency by reducing these tax-based economic distortions, it would also reduce administration costs (expenses incurred by governments due to tax collection and enforcement regulations) and compliance costs (expenses incurred by individuals and businesses to comply with tax regulations).
Finally, a flat tax system would also help avoid negative incentives that come with a progressive marginal tax system. Currently, Albertans are taxed at higher rates as their income increases, which can discourage additional work, savings and investment. A flat tax system would maintain “progressivity” as the proportion of taxes paid would still increase with income, but minimize the disincentive to work more and earn more (increasing savings and investment) because Albertans would face the same tax rate regardless of how their income increases. In sum, flat tax systems encourage stronger economic growth, higher tax revenues and a more robust economy.
To stimulate strong economic growth and leave more money in the pockets of Albertans, the Smith government should go beyond its current commitment to create a new tax bracket on income under $60,000 and institute a flat 8 per cent personal and business income tax rate.
Author:
Alberta
Province to stop municipalities overcharging on utility bills
Making utility bills more affordableAlberta’s government is taking action to protect Alberta’s ratepayers by introducing legislation to lower and stabilize local access fees. Affordability is a top priority for Alberta’s government, with the cost of utilities being a large focus. By introducing legislation to help reduce the cost of utility bills, the government is continuing to follow through on its commitment to make life more affordable for Albertans. This is in addition to the new short-term measures to prevent spikes in electricity prices and will help ensure long-term affordability for Albertans’ basic household expenses.
Local access fees are functioning as a regressive municipal tax that consumers pay on their utility bills. It is unacceptable for municipalities to be raking in hundreds of millions in surplus revenue off the backs of Alberta’s ratepayers and cause their utility bills to be unpredictable costs by tying their fees to a variable rate. Calgarians paid $240 in local access fees on average in 2023, compared to the $75 on average in Edmonton, thanks to Calgary’s formula relying on a variable rate. This led to $186 million more in fees being collected by the City of Calgary than expected.
To protect Alberta’s ratepayers, the Government of Alberta is introducing the Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. If passed, this legislation would promote long-term affordability and predictability for utility bills by prohibiting the use of variable rates when calculating municipalities’ local access fees. Variable rates are highly volatile, which results in wildly fluctuating electricity bills. When municipalities use this rate to calculate their local access fees, it results in higher bills for Albertans and less certainty in families’ budgets. These proposed changes would standardize how municipal fees are calculated across the province, and align with most municipalities’ current formulas.
If passed, the Utilities Affordability Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 would prevent municipalities from attempting to take advantage of Alberta’s ratepayers in the future. It would amend sections of the Electric Utilities Act and Gas Utilities Act to ensure that the Alberta Utilities Commission has stronger regulatory oversight on how these municipal fees are calculated and applied, ensuring Alberta ratepayer’s best interests are protected.
If passed, this legislation would also amend sections of the Alberta Utilities Commission Act, the Electric Utilities Act, Government Organizations Act and the Regulated Rate Option Stability Act to replace the terms “Regulated Rate Option”, “RRO”, and “Regulated Rate Provider” with “Rate of Last Resort” and “Rate of Last Resort Provider” as applicable. Quick facts
Related information |
-
Freedom Convoy2 days ago
Ottawa spent “excessive” $2.2 million fighting Emergencies Act challenge
-
Brownstone Institute2 days ago
A Coup Without Firing a Shot
-
Bruce Dowbiggin2 days ago
Coyotes Ugly: The Sad Obsession Of Gary Bettman
-
COVID-192 days ago
WHO Official Admits the Truth About Passports
-
Energy2 days ago
Anti-LNG activists have decided that they now actually care for LNG investors after years of calling to divest
-
2024 City Councilor By-Election2 days ago
Red Deer City Council by-election: Polls open today until 8 PM
-
Energy2 days ago
Reflections on Earth Day
-
International2 days ago
UN attacks stay-at-home motherhood as ‘gender inequality’