Whereas:

• The Northern Residents Deductions (NRD) are tax deductions available to those living in prescribed zones in northern and isolated parts of Canada, recognizing the higher cost of living in such areas;

• Grande Cache, Alberta is a remote and geographically isolated community that faces long distances to urban centres, high fuel and freight costs, limited access to services, and harsh winter conditions;

• Despite these challenges, Grande Cache is currently excluded from the NRD program because it lies just south of the 55°00′ N latitude threshold for Alberta’s prescribed Intermediate Zone (Zone B);

• The original Task Force on Tax Benefits for Northern and Isolated Areas recommended moving away from rigid geographic cut-offs, noting that many excluded communities faced the same environmental and economic hardships as those included;

• The government has made exceptions in the past: most recently in 2024, when Haida Gwaii was reclassified from Zone B to Zone A following sustained community advocacy and recognition of its unique challenges;

• There is currently no formal or transparent process for communities like Grande Cache to apply for reclassification under the NRD framework, despite facing conditions comparable to those of communities already receiving the tax benefit.

 

We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to reclassify the community of Grande Cache, Alberta, as part of the Intermediate Zone (Zone B) under the Northern Residents Deductions program.