File photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

Pipeline Assessment Changes

TNRD advocacy pays off with government pausing assessment changes for pipelines

Dec 18, 2025 | 4:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — After weeks of uncertainty, B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey has announced there will be no changes to the assessment of pipeline properties in the province. The proposed change was heavily opposed by municipalities and regional districts as it would have resulted in the loss of millions of dollars of taxation. 

After advocacy that took them to Victoria and the premier’s office, the TNRD and every municipality in the province have been given a one-year reprieve on proposed by assessment changes to pipeline evaluations.

“We were looking at a $1-million hole in the budget that was going to have to be plugged somewhere else,” said TNRD Board Chair Barbara Roden Thursday (Dec. 18). “This is really great news for the residents and businesses who no longer will have to be plugging that gap. All we were asking for was a postponement, so that appears to be what we got — so we are happy. The advocacy paid off.”

The TNRD had said that if the change was not postponed, the brunt of the deficit would have been dropped on the shoulders of taxpayers, and in particular the residential and business tax groups. 

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Saving people time at ICBC

23h ago

Question of the Week

Has the violence in Mexico changed your opinion about travelling there for a vacation?

Feb 23, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: February 23, 2026

Feb 23, 2026

“So many local governments were completely blindsided when this announcement was made,” added Roden. “What we are asking for is just a seat at the table, a voice in the planning so we can be a participant, we can know what is happening and we can make some meaningful plans instead of just be presented something at the last minute.”

For the City of Kamloops, it means $650,000 is back in the budget. In Clearwater, it means the community is no longer staring down an 8 per cent tax increase for the pipeline alone.

It is expected that the change will come back to the table in 2027.

“We can absolutely start planning. We can start doing consultation with residents about services. Maybe it’s time for a service review in some areas,” suggested Roden. “Look, here are the services you are paying for. Are there some that could be rolled back or curtailed or scaled down or removed? That is very much something that must come from residents.”