NEWS CLIPPINGS AFTER MARCH 01 , 2006
IN THE WELLAND TRIBUNE
BY GREG FURMINGER, TRIBUNE STAFF
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 01, 2006
HUDAK PRESENTS MPAC BILL
TIM HUDAK TODAY WILL INTRODUCE A PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF SKYROCKETING HOME ASSESSMENTS, AN ISSUE SINCE HIS CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED PROPERTY VALUATION CHANGES IN THE LATE 1990S.
UNDER THE ERIE-LINCOLN MPP’S PROPOSED HOMESTEAD ACT, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS WOULD BE CAPPED AT FIVE PER CENT PER YEAR.
THE FULL VALUE OF A HOME’S REASSESSMENT WOULD BE RECORDED, BUT ONLY A FIVE-PER-CENT INCREASE COULD BE CONSIDERED BY MUNICIPALITIES FOR TAXATION PURPOSES, HUDAK SAID FROM QUEEN’S PARK LAST NIGHT.
HUDAK’S BILL WOULD ALSO SUPPORT HOMEOWNERS WHO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR HOMES AND WOULD PROVIDE A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION FOR SENIORS AND THE DISABLED.
RAPIDLY INCREASING PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS AND RESULTANT PROPERTY TAX INCREASES ARE “SIMPLY UNAFFORDABLE TO THE BELEAGUERED ONTARIO TAXPAYER,” HE SAID. “SENIORS WHO HAVE LIVED IN THEIR HOMES 30 OR 40 YEARS CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN THEIR HOMES,” HE SAID.
HUDAK ACKNOWLEDGED SOME OF THE PROBLEM IS AN UNEXPECTED RESULT OF THE LEGISLATION HIS FELLOW CONSERVATIVES PUSHED THROUGH UNDER THEN-PREMIER MIKE HARRIS.
IN A RELEASE, HUDAK SAID THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME IN ONTARIO LEAPED FROM $179,151 IN THE 2003 TAXATION YEAR TO $232,883 IN THE 2005 VALUATION YEAR.
THIS PAST YEAR, THE AVERAGE PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENT INCREASE IN THE RESIDENTIAL CLASS WAS 14.35 PER CENT, ALTHOUGH SOME, INCLUDING THE SHERKSTON AREA, HAVE SEEN ASSESSMENTS SOAR UPWARDS OF 60 PER CENT, HE SAID.
UNDER HIS HOMESTEAD ACT, THE ANNUAL FIVE-PERCENT-CAP ON RESIDENTIAL ASSESSMENT HIKES WOULD BE MAINTAINED AS LONG AS THE OWNER OF THE HOME REMAINS THE SAME.
ONCE A HOME IS SOLD, THE ASSESSMENT FOR TAX PURPOSES WOULD REVERT TO FULL CURRENT VALUE ASSESSMENT.
IF THE RESIDENCE WERE TRANSFERRED TO A SPOUSE OR CHILD OF THE OWNER, THE CAP PROTECTION WOULD REMAIN IN PLACE.
ALSO UNDER HIS BILL, HOMEOWNERS COULD MAKE UP TO $25,000 IN HOME REPAIRS, ALTERATIONS, IMPROVEMENTS OR ADDITIONS WITHOUT CAUSING AN INCREASE IN ASSESSMENT, ALSO ACTING AS A DEDUCTIBLE FOR IMPROVEMENTS GREATER THAN $25,000.
SENIORS AND THE DISABLED WOULD NOT PAY PROPERTY TAXES ON THE FIRST $10,000 OF THEIR PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE UNDER HUDAK’S PROPOSED LAW.
WELLAND TRIBUNE THURSDAY, MARCH 02, 2006
HUDAK’S PARTY CREATED TAX PROBLEM
THE BLATANT CONTEMPT OF THE ONTARIO ELECTORATE DEMONSTRATED BY ERIE-LINCOLN MPP TIM HUDAK’S ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE GROWING PROBLEM OF UNSUSTAINABLE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES SHOULD NOT BE LOST ON ANYONE.
THE CONSERVATIVE MPP INTRODUCED A PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL ON WEDNESDAY TO THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE NAMED THE HOMESTEAD ACT.
THE ACT WOULD CAP INCREASES TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS AT FIVE PER CENT EACH YEAR. THE BILL ALLOWS HOMEOWNERS TO CARRY OUT UP TO $25,000 WORTH OF UPGRADES, REPAIRS OR ALTERATIONS WITHOUT CAUSING AN ASSESSMENT INCREASE. SENIORS AND THE DISABLED WILL NOT PAY PROPERTY TAXES ON THE FIRST $10,000 OF ASSESSMENT ON THEIR PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE.
HUDAK BELIEVES THE BILL WILL HELP DEAL WITH PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS WHICH INCREASED AN AVERAGE 14.35 PER CENT IN THE PAST YEAR. IN SOME AREAS, LIKE SHERKSTON WHICH HAS SEEN SOME PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS SPIKE 60 PER CENT, INCREASES ARE EVEN HIGHER.
HUDAK SAYS THESE TYPES OF INCREASES ARE DRIVING ONTARIO RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY, FROM THEIR HOMES.
HE’S RIGHT.
THE IRONY HERE IS THE PROBLEMS OCCURRING IN THE MUNICIPAL TAX FIELD ARE OF THE ONTARIO CONSERVATIVE PARTY’S MAKING.
IN 1997 THE GOVERNMENT OF PREMIER MIKE HARRIS MOVED THE ENTIRE PROVINCE TO A MARKET VALUE ASSESSMENT TAXATION SYSTEM. PART OF THAT LEGISLATION CALLED THE ONTARIO FAIR ASSESSMENT SYSTEM CREATED THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT CORPORATION, OR MPAC, WHICH ADMINISTERS THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM. HUDAK, WHO WAS A MEMBER OF HARRIS’S CAUCUS AT THE TIME MPAC WAS CREATED, BLAMES THE CURRENT LIBERAL GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT HE SAYS ARE THE FAILURES OF THE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM HE HELPED CREATE.
BUT PROPERTY ASSESSMENT IS ONLY HALF THE STORY HERE.
THE OTHER HALF INVOLVES THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF SERVICES THE PROVINCE DOWNLOADED TO MUNICIPALITIES AT THE SAME TIME IT CREATED THE NEW ASSESSMENT SYSTEM.
IN A SUPPOSEDLY “REVENUE NEUTRAL” EXCHANGE, THE PROVINCE ASSUMED PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EDUCATION FUNDING WHILE MUNICIPALITIES TOOK OVER SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE ONTARIO WORKS, PUBLIC HEALTH AND AMBULANCES.
THE RESULT WAS A LEAP IN MUNICIPAL TAX LEVIES. IN NIAGARA, THE LEVY WENT FROM $98.4 MILLION IN 1997 TO $189.8 MILLION IN 1998.
ROGER ANDERSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES OF ONTARIO (AMO), SAYS THESE CHANGES HAVE MADE ONTARIO MUNICIPALITIES THE HIGHEST TAXED IN CANADA.
HUDAK’S LATEST FORAY INTO THE MUNICIPAL TAX SPHERE DOESN’T ADDRESS THE SERVICE END OF THE EQUATION, SERVICES WHICH WOULD MORE PROPERLY BE DELIVERED BY THE PROVINCE.
WHAT WOULD BE REFRESHING IS TO HEAR HUDAK AND HIS FELLOW TORIES SAY SOMETHING LIKE: “SORRY FOLKS, WE GOOFED. WE MADE AN HONEST ATTEMPT TO REFORM THE SYSTEM, BUT IT’S ONLY MADE THINGS WORSE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT NEW SOLUTIONS AND NEW PROPERTY TAX MODELS.”
UNTIL HE DOES THAT, WE’LL VIEW THIS PROPOSAL AS A PUBLICITY STUNT, A MOVE WHICH CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE MPP’S BELIEF THE ONTARIO ELECTORATE HAS A MINIMAL ATTENTION SPAN AND AN EVEN SHORTER MEMORY.
DUNNVILLE CHRONICLE
SHELAH BROOKS/CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2006
HUDAK HEADS BACK TO HOGTOWN WITH A FULL PLATE
TIM HUDAK HAS A BIG AGENDA AS PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE RETURNS TO QUEEN’S PARK.
MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT FROM AROUND ONTARIO HEADED BACK TO TORONTO ON FEB. 13 AND HUDAK, MPP FOR ERIE-LINCOLN, PLANS TO TAKE THE TOP ISSUES OF NIAGARA AND DUNNVILLE DIRECTLY TO THE MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT.
“OVER THE UPCOMING SESSION, I’LL BE PRESSING THE MCGUINTY LIBERALS TO FINALLY SHIFT THE MID-PEN CORRIDOR OUT OF REVERSE AND TO HELP HOMEOWNERS HIT WITH SKYROCKETING PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS COURTESY OF MPAC,” SAID HUDAK.
HUDAK SAID SINCE TAKING OFFICE OVER TWO YEARS AGO, THE MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT HAS DELAYED THE MID-PENINSULA CORRIDOR BY SCRAPPING PREVIOUS SUPPORTIVE STUDIES AND INSTEAD REVIEWING WHETHER OR NOT THE NEW HIGHWAY IS EVEN NEEDED.
“THE STUDY DONE IN 2001 SAID THE CORRIDOR WAS NEEDED,” SAID HUDAK.
“BASICALLY, THEY ARE HIDING BEHIND MORE STUDIES SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE HIGHWAY.”
HUDAK SAID HE WILL KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THOSE IN HALDIMAND AND NIAGARA.
“IT WILL BE A MAJOR ARTERY IN THE AREA AND HELP PROMOTE TOURISM AND SAFE TRAVEL,” HE SAID.
IN TERMS OF THE MPAC ASSESSMENTS, THE AVERAGE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT INCREASE IN NIAGARA IS 16 PERCENT, THOUGH SOME HOMEOWNERS REPORTED TO HUDAK THEIR ASSESSMENT INCREASED BY 60 PERCENT.
“PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THEIR PROPERTY ASSESSMENT, WHICH WILL LIKELY RESULT IN HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES,” SAID HUDAK.
“ON TOP OF THE TAX INCREASES THEY HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED FROM THE MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT, HIGHER HYDRO RATES AND HIGHER HEATING COSTS, THEY’RE MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR WORKING FAMILIES, SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.”
HUDAK WILL BE BRINGING ALL OF THE PETITIONS HE HAS RECEIVED ON THIS ISSUE DIRECTLY TO THE LEGISLATURE’S ATTENTION AND WILL BE PUSHING THE MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO HELP THESE HOMEOWNERS.
OTHER ISSUES HUDAK PLANS TO BRING UP IN QUESTION PERIOD AND HOUSE DEBATE INCLUDE THE FUTURE OF CONSTANT CARE BEDS AT DOUGLAS MEMORIAL AND THE PORT COLBORNE GENERAL HOSPITALS, MORE SENIOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR THE WAINFLEET WATER AND WASTE WATER PROJECT, GILMORE ROAD OVERPASS FUNDING, LOCAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE COMMISSION, AND SUPPORT FOR THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN HIT WITH LOW COMMODITY PRICES AND UNFAIR FOREIGN COMPETITION.
“FARMERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE GRAIN AND OIL SEED BUSINESS ARE SEEING RECORD LOW PRICES AND ARE COMPETING WITH UNFAIR SUBSIDISED COMMODITIES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES,” SAID HUDAK.
SPECIFIC TO THE DUNNVILLE AREA, A PETITION WAS BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE HOUSE TO CREATE CROSSWALKS IN BYNG NEAR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
“WAYNE VOAKES HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF SIGNATURES ON A PETITION AND I BROUGHT THAT TO THE FLOOR OF THE LEGISLATURE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE SESSION,” SAID HUDAK.
HUDAK SAID THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF THE SESSION HAVE GONE WELL AND FEELS IT WILL BE A HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS SESSION.
“THE MAIN TOPICS FOR DEBATE HAVE BEEN THE OMERS LEGISLATION (BILL 206), WHICH HAS PENSIONERS VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DALTON MCGUINTY MEDDLING WITH THEIR PENSIONS,” SAID HUDAK. “THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION, WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING THE MEMBERS’ INTEGRITY ACT. HIS SUITABILITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN CABINET, MY WORRY IS BECAUSE HE’S BEEN SO DISTRACTED BY THE SCANDALS HE’S CREATED, THE MAJOR PROJECTS LIKE THE MID-PENINSULA CORRIDOR ARE NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE. THE THIRD MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED IS JOB LOSSES. NOW THAT THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES BEEN HIT, A LOT OF MANUFACTURERS ACROSS THE PROVINCE ARE LAYING OFF PEOPLE OR CLOSING.”
HUDAK SAID APPROXIMATELY 80,000 WELL-PAYING MANUFACTURING JOBS WERE LOST IN 2005 BECAUSE OF IT.
“THERE ARE A LOT OF CONTENTIOUS ISSUES THAT WILL DOMINATE THE DEBATE AND I’LL ENTER INTO THOSE DEBATES AS I HAVE IN THE PAST,” SAID HUDAK. “BUT THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC LOCAL ITEMS THAT I WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD.”
Mayor Gord Harry
PHONE: (905) 899-2625EMAIL: gharry@township.wainfleet.on.ca Alderman Evan Main PHONE: (905) 899-2633 or (905) 899-1250 EMAIL: emain@township.wainfleet.on.ca Alderman Patrick Robson EMAIL: probson@township.wainfleet.on.ca Alderwoman Barbara Henderson PHONE: (905) 386-0977 EMAIL: bhenderson@township.wainfleet.on.ca Alderman Rudy Warkentin PHONE: (905) 899-1358 EMAIL: rwarkentin@township.wainfleet.on.ca MPP -ERIE-LINCOLN TIM HUDAK , MPP PHONE: (905) 382-0322 FAX : (905) 382-0315 EMAIL: timhudak@niagara.net MPP JOHN MALONEY PHONE: (905) 788-2204 FAX : (905) 788-0071 EMAIL: malonj@parl.gc.ca PROJECT MANAGER , Regional Niagara BOB STEELE EMAIL: bob.steele@regional.niagara.on.ca
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
