Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas says Northern Ontarians living in unincorporated areas deserve a fair Provincial Land Tax.

“Before this new Provincial Land Tax is implemented, the McGuinty Liberals need to listen to Northern Ontarians. Many property owners in unincorporated areas have been calling my office worried about the impact these changes will have on their property taxes and whether their taxes will be used to improve badly needed local services,” said Gélinas, today at a government information session on the tax.

A new Provincial Land Tax system is being put in place effective January 1, 2009, and all that affected property owners know at this point is that the new system will be based on the same current market value assessment that is presently in place in incorporated municipalities.

In July, Gélinas urged the government to hold consultations in communities throughout Northern Ontario – including Nickel Belt – on upcoming changes to the Provincial Land Tax. Today, the government held an information session on the tax and residents were given the opportunity to voice their concerns.

“The unfair and arbitrary property assessment system used elsewhere in the province has resulted in sky-high property taxes, especially hitting the pocketbooks of seniors and people on fixed incomes. On top of that, residents in unincorporated areas are already paying for services through both a local services board and the Provincial Land Tax. This simply isn’t fair,” said Gélinas.

Currently, all Provincial Land Taxes collected go directly to Ontario’s general revenue fund and, in effect, the money is shared by all the residents of Ontario.

“It’s very difficult to determine whether funds from the Provincial Land Tax are reinvested in unincorporated areas of Northern Ontario, such as fire and policing services and waste disposal. This is a serious concern,” said Gélinas.

“New Democrats are standing up for Northern Ontarians. We believe Northerners deserve fair, predictable, and stable property assessments and that revenues raised in the North must be used to support services in the North,” said Gélinas.