BC municipalities' fibre tax concern prompted ministry meeting

By Ahmad Hathout VICTORIA – Municipalities in British Columbia have expressed concern about government-subsidized fibre networks being taxed too heavily, which prompted a meeting of the provincial ministry for telecommunications to discuss the matter. Citizens’ Services Minister Lisa Beare suggested a follow-up meeting on the issue of subjecting to property tax fibre projects funded by public money, according to a briefing note obtained by Cartt. The meeting suggestion followed concern voiced by the Regional District of East Kootenay at the 2022 Union of BC Municipalities convention in September. (The province is composed of 27 regional districts.) “The fibre optic industry...