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Chance encounter leads Tory to Oakville
for property tax assessment announcement

By Krissie Rutherford

September 26, 2007

Aggi McLaren was working in her front garden on Saturday when one of John Tory's campaign members dropped by to talk about taxes.

Two days later, the Oakville senior found herself hosting a roundtable discussion at her home with the Progressive Conservative Party leader.

Tory was in town Monday to discuss property taxes, targeting seniors as suffering in the wake of the rising taxes.

"Today, many seniors are struggling to make ends meet," Tory, joined by Oakville candidate Rick Byers, told a barrage of media gathered in front of McLaren's home on Lakeshore Rd. E. "They are penalized by a property assessment system that punishes people on fixed incomes most of all."

The Tory government pledged to put a five per cent annual cap on property assessment increases for as long as a person owns their home - including if the property is transferred to a spouse.

Tory said an assessment cap of five per cent is "an historic number" that has been used in years prior, and one he feels is "fair and balanced."

Property tax assessments are frozen until the end of this year, a move the McGuinty government made after Ontario's Ombudsman investigated the concerns of homeowners in early 2006.

The worry is that once the freeze is off, homeowners will face a major jump in taxes.

"He claims to have solved the problem by implementing four-year assessment cycles and assessment averaging," Tory said, standing behind a podium bearing a sign that read 'Fair Property Taxes.'

"This does nothing more than give seniors and other homeowners an extra four years to pack their bags."

Chair of the Coalition After Property Tax Reform (CAPTR) Bob Topp voiced his organization's concerns during the roundtable discussion.

"The big hit will be at the end of this year," Topp said, once the freeze is off.

"This area is like parts of Toronto, there's no question. What's going to happen in Oakville, it's inevitable. Some areas will go through the roof, and other areas are going to go up a little bit."

Topp said the next assessment will cover a three-year period, so it's an important time to discuss property taxes. This will affect taxes in 2009.

"We want to get this issue further up on the election agenda," Topp told the Oakville Beaver. "There are significant differences on the three major parties. We think it's an issue that deserves attention."

The current municipal property tax assessment system saw the average assessed home in the province rise from $179,151 in the 2003 tax year to $232,883 in the 2006 taxation year.

"Dalton McGuinty has failed seniors who live still in their own homes," Tory said. "They struggle with skyrocketing tax assessments and far too many are on the verge of being forced out of their homes."

McLaren said her property taxes have gone up 50 per cent in five years and her husband, who couldn't attend the meeting for medical reasons, is worried they won't be able to remain in their home.

"It's scary," she said. "Once the freeze is over, I don't know what is going to happen."

McLaren, who supports the PC Party's five per cent cap, said they're paying equitable taxes to their neighbours, who own "monster homes" compared to their "modest house."

This is a concern shared by many Oakville residents, said Byers.

"As I go door to door, the property tax issue is a big issue in our community," he said. "John knows that it's an important issue for our community, which is why he chose to come here today.

"It just shows that he cares a lot about our community. It also shows that we'll have his support with a PC government."

Tory also announced Monday his government will implement a new reverse onus appeal system so the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) will have to justify an assessment increase.

"I'm putting MPAC officially on notice, if it doesn't act, I will replace it with an organization that will," Tory said.

The PC government also pledged to give Ontario's retirees 100 per cent access to their locked-in pension income. Seniors would gain access to 50 per cent at age 55, and the other half at age 65.

Source: OakvilleBeaver.com

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