CALGARY – Aside from , Alberta’s 2015 budget means you’ll be paying more to get married, buy a house, and even die.
Albertans will pay $1.5 billion more in taxes and fees this year to help cover the shortfall, due mostly to lower oil prices. Finance Minister Robin Campbell said Thursday some of the hikes were overdue.
“We know some Albertans will be critical of these revenue changes,” said Campbell. “However, without these increases, the future of many programs and services was at risk.”
Here’s a look at some of the user fee increases effective July 1, 2015:
- Abstracts (Driver, Commercial Driver, Verification of suspension): increase from $15 to $20
- Operator Licence – application/renewal (1 year to 5 Years): increase from $15 – $75 to $15.80 – $79
- Passenger Vehicle application/renewal: increase from $75 to $84
- Land title search including online search: increases from $10 to $15
- Land Title Caveats: increase from $30 to $35
- Transfers and leasehold titles – Flat fee: increase from $50 to $75
- Transfers and leasehold titles – variable fee per each $5,000: increase from $1 to $6
- Mortgages- Flat fee: increase from $50 to $75
- Mortgages- Variable fee per each $5,000: increase from $1 to $6
- Marriage Licence: increase from $40 to $50
- Application for, Photocopy or Search and search letters of Birth, Marriage, or Death Certificates: increase from $20 to $30
- Incorporations including Amalgamations of Alberta Corporations: increase from $250 to $275
- Annual Returns for Corporations: increase from $30 to $50
- Corporation and non-profit organization searches (including historical): increase from $1 to $5
Daily trial fees for civic matters will cost $250 a day instead of costing nothing. There are a number of other new court fees that used to be free as well:
- Court of Appeal applications: $50
- Statements of defence: $50
- Counterclaims: $150
- Third Party claims: $150
- Interlocutory applications: $50
- Family Law Act claims: $50
© Shaw Media, 2015