District of Squamish Revitalization Tax Exemption
(Woodfibre LNG) Bylaw No. 3273, 2026
The District of Squamish gives notice, under sections 94, 226 and 227 of the Community Charter, that Council will consider first three readings of “District of Squamish Revitalization Tax Exemption (Woodfibre LNG) Bylaw No. 3273, 2026” (“Bylaw 3273”) at a Special Business Meeting commencing at 6 p.m. on September 22, 2026 in the Council Chambers at the District Hall at 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, B.C.
The properties eligible for an exemption under Bylaw 3273 (the “Lands”) are identified by the area demarcated on the following map by the line labelled “RTE”:
The amount of the tax exemption proposed under Bylaw 3273 will be determined by the following formula:
Tax Exemption = Municipal Property Tax – Tax Payable.
Where Municipal Property Tax is such portion of property value taxes that are imposed and levied, pursuant to section 197(1)(a) of the Community Charter, on all taxable land and improvements on the Lands but does not include taxes levied for other local governments or public bodies pursuant to section 197(1)(b) of the Community Charter or taxes collected for other authorities including hospital, school, Municipal Finance Authority, Regional District, and BC Assessment Authority;
and
Tax Payable in 2027 is $2,500,000, and in each subsequent year, is the amount equal to the sum of the Tax Payable in the previous year plus the product of the Tax Payable in the previous year multiplied by the inflation rate for the previous year as determined by the Consumer Price Index for the previous year.
The term of the Tax Exemption under Bylaw 3273 is 10 years commencing in 2027.
The reasons for establishing the revitalization tax exemption program (the “Program”) and its objectives are as follows:
- Encourage redevelopment and revitalization of environmentally contaminated industrial lands formerly occupied by the Woodfibre Pulp Mill;
- Increase economic opportunities, capacity building, and prosperity of the community to create an economically diverse and stable community;
- Maximize the financial contribution to the District from the LNG Plant;
- Encourage investment in the community by Woodfibre LNG, including through Community Enhancement Payments made under the CEP Agreement;
- Increase local employment opportunities, including through opportunities that are currently available or are expected to become available in the future at the LNG Plant that is being constructed on the lands;
- Further support the redevelopment of the Lands, which are located on a brownfield site.
The Program is proposed to accomplish its objectives by creating predictability and certainty in relation to Municipal Property Tax to allow Woodfibre LNG to continue to invest in the LNG Plant.
To view Bylaw 3273, and for more information or to submit a comment or question, please go to: squamish.ca/WLNG-agreement.
If you need assistance, please contact the District’s Corporate Officer at [email protected] or visit Municipal Hall at 37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, B.C. between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on non-statutory holiday weekdays.
Phone: 604-892-5217