our community
ity may have 10,000 fire hydrants to test at a cost of $1.00 each. But when a condo gets five to 10 hydrants serviced, the cost could be much more and municipalities might use the latter to calculate compensation. With 800,000 voters in Ontario living in condominiums, the issue of unfair taxation is no insignificant matter, especially for politicians. The CCI would like to encourage the emailing of council members to voice your stance on the issue and to ask their advice on how to achieve fair tax goals. They also recommend submitting requests for the creation of separate taxation categories for condominiums and townhouses. The position of Toronto mayor, Rob Ford, was indicated during a debate prior to his election. In the debate he kept his distance from the controversy, referring to the matter as a provincial one. Prior to the provincial election that saw a Liberal victory, PC leader
Tim Hudak said he would review The Condominium Act if he was elected, vowing to amend it “to reflect modern realities.” A survey launched by the
Many of the residences that make up Humber Bay Shores condos.
Minister of Consumer Services in late July of 2010 was intended to collect information regarding the experiences
of condominium owners—3,100 owners have reportedly completed the survey to date. John Gerretsen, the Minister of Consumer Services, says he’s open to recommendations concerning the Act, stating, “I am always pleased to learn the industry’s views about Ontario’s Condominium Act, 1998, as the province is committed to protecting the condominium market.” The process of change is one that is slow and full of legal obstacles and governmental hurdles. However, now that the ball is rolling, condominium and townhome owners have a small but bright light at the end of their unfairly taxed municipal tunnel. As more and more urban dwellers call high rises and townhouse complexes home than ever before, it becomes more and more difficult for politicians to ignore their recommendations—which have been fairly and reasonably laid out. HH
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