According to legislation, the City of Edmonton can release property information to a property owner or a property owner representative (agent) appointed directly by the property owner.
An authorized property owner representative, or agent, is “a person authorized by another (principal) to act for or in place of him; one entrusted (sic) with another’s business.”
In the assessment context, property owners can appoint any other person they want as an agent, including an employee, husband, wife or child.
While City assessors do not typically discuss financial details when dealing with a residential property, Alberta’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act still requires the City to protect such items as the mailing address of a property owner or the school support declaration.
In addition, it is impossible for a municipality to agree to anything about the assessment with a party that is not the property owner or his/her duly appointed agent. Therefore, any discussion about attempting to correct an assessment on a residential property cannot be completed without the involvement of the property owner or their agent.
This authorization is legally binding only for one year.