Property Tax
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FOCA's Property Tax Position
FOCA advocates for fair property taxation on behalf of waterfront residential property taxpayers in Ontario. In 2011, FOCA carries on as a leader in property tax reform, continuing our long-term interests that were delivered through WRAFT (Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation) and CAPTR (Coalition After Property Tax Reform). FOCA’s position on the major issues with the current residential property tax system in Ontario follows:
"Downloading" by the Province onto municipalities, and hence property owners in Ontario, is higher than all the rest of Canada. This inordinate local funding burden amplifies the unfairness inherent when property value is the sole determinant of how much an individual who pays for a lengthy list of municipal obligations. FOCA believes the provincial government must hasten and broaden the provincial role in financially supporting social services through provincial income taxes, which has only partially been addressed in the recommendations of the 2008 Provincial Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review.
The use of current value assessments (CVA), as a means to calculate property owners' payments for municipal services received, continues to unfairly distribute social costs. There are precedents in other North American jurisdictions for a fairer process, acknowledging that there are municipal services that should not be paid for solely on the basis of the value of one’s property. To use pure CVA to calculate tax obligations amounts to a tax on unrealized capital gains.
Failing to address the shortcomings within the current process will contribute to instability in many Ontario communities, forcing the untimely disposition of family assets. This is only one unfortunate if unintended consequence from the current instable and unpredictable property tax system. It is FOCA's contention that the Province must forthwith take concrete steps to address the instability and unpredictability of property taxation in Ontario.
RE/MAX Recreational Property Report 2010
November 2011:
WRAFT Annual General Meeting was held November 5, 2011.
*Resolution: WRAFT corporation was officially dissolved, and tax reform
efforts assumed by the Tax Committee of FOCA.
October 2011:
Taxation Update - Ontario Provincial Election
FOCA compiled some key points from the 4 major parties describing some of the key fiscal positions affecting property owners. Click here for the summary...
August 2011:
FOCA's letter related to the 2010 Auditor-General's report (see link below) resulted in a response from MPAC, and the Minister of Finance. While MPAC claims to be working towards resolving their challenges, the Province remains committed to the current CVA system.
As an ongoing hardship for Ontario's property owners, we encourage all concerns and questions to be directed to the Minister at 416-325-0400.
FOCA and WRAFT officially join forces! March 2011
ReMax Recreational Property Report 2011
2010 Annual Report from Ontario's Auditor General slams MPAC
Canada Revenue "Principle Residence" Interpretation
WRAFT:
WRAFT/CAPTR/FOCA meeting with MPAC, Toronto, January 2009
Tax Incentive Programs:
Conservation Land Tax Incentive
Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (>10 acres of forested land)
