Pipeline Tax Cuts May Shift Millions to B.C. Homeowners

Pipeline companies including Enbridge, Trans Mountain and FortisBC are set to receive millions in property tax reductions after BC Assessment updated its decades-old valuation model, a move prompted by nearly a decade of industry lobbying. The reassessment, which lowers pipeline values by about 27 per cent in some regions, could shift the financial burden onto homeowners as municipalities lose significant revenue. Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell warned the change could shrink his town’s tax base by up to 11 per cent, forcing higher residential taxes or service cuts. The Conservative Party of B.C. has denounced the decision as a “backroom deal,” while the province maintains the new model—set to take effect in 2026—will ensure fairer and more accurate valuations.