Laurie Scott MPP

For Immediate Release
March 9, 2007

Scott and Tory Announce Plan for Stability on Property Assessments
Cap on assessments would stop huge increases

(City of Kawartha Lakes, ON) – Today Laurie Scott, MPP of Haliburton-Victoria-Brock was pleased to announced a plan to protect homeowners from runaway property assessment increases that put some people at risk of losing their homes.

“The property assessment system in Ontario has spiraled out of control and is hurting homeowners and has caused ongoing and serious concerns,” said Scott. “I have heard from numerous seniors and hardworking families who are worried that skyrocketing increases to their property assessments may soon leave them unable to afford to continue living and owning their own homes.”

The plan put forward would protect home and property owners by:

•	Establishing a five per cent annual cap on property assessment increases for as long as an individual owns their home (including if a property is transferred to a spouse);
•	Implementing a new reverse onus appeal system so the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) will have to justify an assessment increase instead of placing the burden of proof on the homeowner; and
•	Ensuring MPAC fully implements the recommendations of the Ombudsman, and if the serious problems identified by the Ombudsman have not been addressed, shutting down MPAC and building a better model.

“Seniors, families and people on fixed incomes in Haliburton-Victoria-Brock and throughout Ontario deserve certainty and stability,” added Scott. “They need to know that they can afford to keep living in their homes and that government will be there to help them. Unfortunately, in Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario this is no longer a certainty.”
“This is a very important step to provide the assurance that hardworking Ontarians will not have to give up their property, many of which have been in families for generations.”

- 30 -

For Further Information Contact:
Laurie Scott, MPP
416-325-2008