A taxpayer concerned about property rights and property taxation here in Canada and particularly here in Ontario where I reside. The erosion of property rights by way of rules and regulations, municipal bylaws, provincial legislation and other means should be of concern to all Canadians. We are slowly losing the right to determine what we can and can not do with property we own regardless of how reasonable it may be.

This is my playground, a place to come and learn, a place to share. I will on occasion post articles or information about Property taxation and assessment here in Ontario, and locally here in Uxbridge and some of the surrounding communities.

Of particular interest to me is how the property tax system has changed over the years, how the accountability of our local officials for the growing property tax burden has been eroded by the current system, and how while on the surface the present system of assessment appears to be fair, equitable, easy to understand and easy to be able to challenge an assessment that appears to be inequitable in reality is not.  

The knowledge that I have acquired as a Real Estate Broker, in Assessment Appeals and courses on Assessment , and in researching for presentation's to: The Fair Tax Commission, local Municipal Governments, a Provincial standing Committee, the Assessment Review Board and the Ontario Municipal Board over the years has left me with little faith in the assessment process here in Ontario. While the process might work very well in an area of subdivision type homes there are large areas in and around Uxbridge that are very dissimilar thereby creating "in my opinion" assessed values that are unreasonable and unfair.

Over the years I have found getting detailed information for assessment appeals and challenging inequitable property assessments is becoming harder and harder.