On August 20, 2007 while others were expressing their opinions in Montebello, eight stalwart Canadian National Taxpayers Coalition members (CNTC) joined the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (A.M.O.) in Ottawa in speaking up against downloading and current (market) value assessment. 

At 9.50 a.m. they lifted their signs, and found themselves swarmed by no less than 19 police officers and security personnel. Police requested that they stay within 3 feet of the curb and asked how many people would be protesting while they decided whether or not to call in the “tactical squad” to handle the situation.  Shortly after, the flood started.  Call it coincidence or not, but 2 bus loads of police arrived along with 15 to 20 motorcycle officers and paramedics. A wary constant eye was kept on this small vigilante group that dared to challenge the government’s fiscal policies.

CNTC/CAFTA members were well aware that Premier McGuinty was scheduled to speak at the conference that day but felt that the “show of force” by officials was just a bit much for the 8 demonstrators.

Pamphlets flew out of their hands.  People stopped to ask what they were doing and long conversations ensued.  Mayors attending the A.M.O. conference encouraged them with thumbs up signs and cries of “Go for it”.  Then the media arrived for the speeches inside the conference.  They made sure that the local T.V. and newspapers heard the message of the property owners of Ontario.

They made their point, taxpayers will not put up with the ever escalating property taxes and irresponsible government and their voices will be heard in the upcoming provincial election on October 10, 2007.

The premier’s announcement that the province would be uploading responsibility for some services to the tune of $935 million dollars, upon analysis amounts to no more than the usual smoke and mirrors game that “will not solve the immediate crisis” that now faces all property tax owners of Ontario. With the province’s “newly found” surplus of over 2.3 billion dollars they have only managed to transfer a fraction of the 3.9 billion dollars that is needed immediately by the municipalities. And parts of that amount will not take affect until 2011.

 A total of four years is needed to just start the uploading? Taxpayers should be wary of all announcements coming from Queens Park now that the election is looming.

Canadian Advocates for Awareness (CAFTA) and CNTC were formed in an effort to find a fair, equitable and stable solution to the property assessment dilemma.  Part of that problem is the downloading of financial responsibility for services from provincial to municipal coffers.  Upload those services and the municipalities have a greater ability to use property taxes for municipal needs.

Ottawa heard the message and it was encouraging to see so many members of AMO noting the presence of CAFTA/ CNTC because it is vital at this time to get their message out. Property taxpayers are very upset.   Property owners are asked to attend their “all candidates meeting” and make sure that property assessment and downloading is an election issue.  Instead of band aid fixes, let’s bring all the stakeholders together in a conference to produce a system that works for everyone, especially the individuals who are funding it all.