UNPAID CORPORATE TAXES SOAR

Uncollected amounts and penalties exceed $ 1.1 billion, says watchdog

Uncollected corporate taxes and penalties surged by over 25 per cent in Alberta last year, despite a stern warning from the province’s financial watchdog that the government needs to do a better job of getting businesses to pay up.

The mounting tab now totals more than $ 1.1 billion, an amount roughly equal to one- fifth the total amount actually collected from corporations over the last 12 months and two times what the new NDP government hopes to raise annually by hiking the rate for big businesses from 10- 12 per cent.

The Finance Department’s recent annual report also shows that fully 38 per cent of what’s outstanding, or $ 431 million, will likely have to be written off.

The numbers suggest the problem is getting worse.

The proportion of all corporate taxes and penalties that were assessed in a given year but were then unpaid increased by a third from 5.7 per cent in 2013- 14 to 7.6 per cent in 2014- 15.

A scathing report by the auditor general last October said the department needed to update its tax collection policies, better train the staff to pursue overdue accounts, and establish more aggressive targets and effective strategies to get corporations to pay more of what they owe sooner.

A third man has been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing and robbery of a Calgary shop owner in October.

Matthew Daniel Forest, 21, who was already in custody on unrelated matters, was formally charged with robbery, accessory after the fact to robbery, and accessory after the fact to murder.

Police laid the charges in connection with the death of Maqsood Ahmed, 55, who operated a money transfer business and grocery store and was well- regarded in the local Pakistani community.

Forest was previously known to police. He was due to appear in court this year for drug traffickingrelated charges, and for assault, aggravated assault and robbery.

Earlier this week, 19- year- old Jean Bertrand Havyarimana turned himself into police and was charged with second- degree murder and robbery in the case.

And last month, Lloyd Kollie, also 19, was arrested and slapped with the same charges.

Investigators continue to investigate a fourth suspect.

Police say Ahmed, who was carrying cash and receipts, was closing up shop with a female employee at around 9: 40 p. m. on Oct. 8, 2014, when two men approached the business owner, took his cash and stabbed him.

Ahmed died of his injuries. The female employee was not hurt.

It’s believed Kollie and Havyarimana, who are both previously known to police, “were active participants” in the robbery and attack while two others provided support.

Police later recovered two cars linked to the case, obtaining forensic evidence from one of the vehicles.

Officers also recovered the bag that Ahmed used to carry the cash and receipts. None of the stolen money has been recovered.