How many levels of red tape do you want?
Editor:
Let me give you a little background on why your property taxes are going to increase. The Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) is increasing the protected areas surrounding the escarpment in the counties of Dufferin, Mono, Caledon, Grey, and Bruce. The changes will affect how property taxes are calculated for those that are considered to be in the new protected areas. In Mulmur township, part of Dufferin County, the total changes are expected to short the township’s budget by $1.2 million. (This is only the Mulmur portion and doesn’t include other townships so it will be more than that.) Why is this important to you? The shorted tax revenues will be distributed to those in the affected counties, meaning you, me, everyone.
You may feel the protection is great and that you will have new places to go hiking. No, this is private property.
To those of us that will be in the affected areas, it means we won’t be able to change anything on our property without NEC and NVCA approval. So, how many levels of red tape do you want to go through? You may also believe that if your property is in one of these areas that it will be excluded from any taxes. Wrong. If there is a residence on the property you are subject to taxes.
In Dufferin County, the NEC increased protected area includes Mansfield, Terra Nova, and Honeywood. Really? Have these people looked at more than a map? There are commercial properties including a gas station here.
What can you do? You can write an e-mail or a letter to the NEC to address our concerns. This doesn’t mean that you are being an activist, this means that you are looking out for your family. You could indicate that you do not want to be affected by the proposed escarpment land increase, you do not want your taxes to be increased, and/or you want to know why they are making changes that are contrary to the official growth plan set out by the government of Ontario. We do not want the NEC to dictate what we can do on our property.
I also would like them to answer the question as to where they were when we were fighting the Melancthon mega quarry?
Deadline for comments is Oct. 31. Your letter/email should be addressed to planreview@escarpment.org, sylvia.jonesqp@pc.ola.org, info@mulmur.ca (or your own township) Cindy Tan, Manager, Land Use Planning Review, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ontario Growth Secretariat, Suite 425, 4th Floor, 777 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2E5 and/or Niagara Escarpment Commission 232 Guelph St. (3rd floor), Georgetown, Ontario, L7G 4B1
More information: http://www.escarpment.org/planreview/index.php.
Thank you.
Karen Scully,
Mulmur.
