PC Leader vows to oversee the implementation of necessary changes at MPAC or to replace it with a model that works for homeowners

(Pickering, ON) – Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory, PC Finance Critic Tim Hudak and other PC candidates stood outside the offices of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation in Pickering today to reinforce their commitment to protect Ontario homeowners from skyrocketing property assessment increases that put them at risk of losing their homes.

MPP Tim Hudak joins PC Leader John Tory and local PC Candidates at the MPAC building in Pickering"Dalton McGuinty is quick to act when it comes to his year-end slush fund and shoveling taxpayers’ money out the door as quick as possible,” said Tory. “But he’s painfully slow to move when it comes to protecting homeowners and as a result he has allowed Ontario’s property assessment system to spiral out of control. It was only when the provincial Ombudsman released a scathing report revealing the arrogance and unfairness taxpayers were experiencing that Dalton McGuinty even acknowledged there was a problem.”

In response to the enormous outcry in his riding over skyrocketing property assessments, Erie-Lincoln MPP, Tim Hudak crafted Bill 75, the Homestead Act. Hudak’s Private Member’s Bill 75 would cap assessment increases at a maximum of 5% per year as long as home ownership by a family was maintained among other protections for homeowners. While Hudak’s Bill won the support of the PC and NDP MPPs as well as 11 Liberal MPPs who defied Premier McGuinty to support the Bill, it failed to become law when Dalton McGuinty refused to allow a final vote on the Bill.

“I thank my constituents for their advice in helping me develop the Homestead Act,” said Hudak. “We need to ensure that seniors and working families are able to stay in their homes. With higher taxes, higher energy rates and skyrocketing assessments, it has become increasingly difficult to make ends meet in Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario.”

While Dalton McGuinty failed to act on Hudak’s idea of assessment caps, John Tory has made it official PC Policy.

A John Tory PC Government will protect homeowners against runaway and unfair property tax increases by:

• Establishing a five percent annual cap on property assessment increases for as long as an individual owns his or her 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;
• Addressing rural assessment inequalities which currently penalize Ontario farmers. The PC government will ensure that farmers who are encouraged to have value-added production services are not subject to unfair property tax assessments because of them.
• Ensuring MPAC fully implements the recommendations of the Ombudsman. If the necessary changes are not made, a PC government will shut MPAC down and build a model that works.

“Ontarians have the right to expect a reasonable and fair tax system, and this applies to taxes levied against their homes and properties,” said Tim Hudak, MPP Erie-Lincoln and Finance Critic for the Ontario PC Party. “It’s time for a Premier who will help families, single homeowners and our seniors remain in their homes instead of leaving them vulnerable to huge property tax increases that put them at risk. John Tory will be that Premier.”

For fair and reasonable property taxes, leadership matters.

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Tim Hudak