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Liberal Platform Fails Property Owners: Property Tax Reform Coalition

Attention News Editors:

Liberal Platform Fails Property Owners: Property Tax Reform Coalition

TORONTO, Oct. 4 /CNW/ - Ontario's million-member Coalition After Property Tax Reform, (CAPTR), says the Ontario Liberals are applying an unfair and partial fix by promising a homeowners grant for seniors to help them pay their property taxes.

CAPTR spokesperson, Bob Topp, says the Liberals are leaving working families in the lurch, unlike both the Ontario Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats.

"We agree with NDP Leader Howard Hampton who yesterday described the fact that Ontario has the highest property taxes in Canada as being 'fundamentally unfair'", says Topp, "and we agree with PC Leader John Tory's plan to cap property assessment hikes at 5 per cent annually."

"Both Hampton and Tory recognize that the existing system is creating financial hardship for many property owners across Ontario, not just seniors," says Topp, who notes that 65 per cent of Ontarians own property.

"What's needed is a five per cent cap on annual assessment increases to protect all property owners. And it's needed now before the impact of the 2008 assessment hits property tax bills in 2009," says Topp.

The Liberal government plan to move to a four year phase-in of assessment increases simply gives property owners four years to try to pay for their property tax hike.

CAPTR is a coalition of urban, waterfront and seniors groups representing over one million Ontarians. It is calling for a 5% cap on annual assessment increases.

For further information: Bob Topp, (416) 929-9885

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