WRAFT Email to Members - May 2006

We are encouraged by the indications coming from Queen's Park of late that the Liberal government is beginning to pay attention to the growing chorus of concern regarding CVA and the property tax system. The combined impact of the Ombudsman's report; the PC private members Bill (approved for second reading with all parties in favour including the majority of Liberals present in the House); the ongoing support of the mayor of Ottawa for property tax reform; the recent announcement of the formation of CAPTR, a coalition of 700 member associations across Ontario as well as considerable favourable media attention have all contributed to the apparent change in attitude of the party in power. There is now talk of an assessment freeze and formation of a study group but it is still talk. We need to keep our concerns front and centre and need your help to do that. We are asking you and your membership to do four things:

· Keep writing letters and emails to your MPP. It makes a difference. The Premier is quoted as saying all MPPs are receiving "calls, letters and emails" from constituents unhappy with the system. Go to www.wraft.com for names and addresses.

· If your association has not sent a donation equivalent to your membership fee, as earlier requested, please do so. Also if your association is prepared to request donations from its membership, please contact our Director Scott Mortimer at [email protected] for further details. We need to strengthen our treasury for the work ahead.

· The second installment of your 2005 property tax will arrive this summer and will include the full impact in the 2005 assessment increase. This will be a huge hit for most of us. At your association annual meeting or when the tax bills arrive in your area, have a tax protest meeting. You could join forces with other associations within your municipality. Invite the media and local politicians. For further ideas contact us at [email protected].

· Circulate the following petition to your membership, have it signed, send it to us at WRAFT 131 Bloor St W Suite 200 Box 263 Toronto M5S 1R8 and we will forward it to the Finance Minister. Feel free to add any other language you wish.

To Finance Minister Dwight Duncan:
Whereas the volatility of current assessed values and the consequent unpredictability of property taxes is unacceptable; and
Whereas the annual shift of the tax burden to "hot" real estate properties reflects neither the use of services nor the ability to pay;
Therefore we petition the Provincial Government to cap increases in
assessed values at 5% per year. We ask that the 2004 assessment be used as a base because the 2005 assessment has been discredited by the Ombudsman's report.

Thanks for your help. Keep an eye on our websites, www.wraft.com and www.captr.org for latest developments