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Ontario Ombudsman Investigates MPAC |
On June 15, 2005, Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin notified
the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) of
his intention to pursue an investigation into whether
MPAC had failed to consider reductions in property
assessments identified in the Request for
Reconsideration process and in Assessment Review Board (ARB)
decisions, causing property owners to repeatedly appeal
their assessments.
In the past several years, the Ombudsman has received
complaints from property owners who have been successful
in obtaining a reduced assessment when their complaint
was reviewed through MPAC’s internal reconsideration
process, or on appeal to the ARB. They complain that
their assessments were over estimated the following
year, suggesting that the MPAC’s records were not
amended to reflect the previously reduced assessment.
Property owners alleged that because their next market
value assessment is out of line they must challenge it
again. They complained that these repeated requests and
appeals are both time-consuming and costly.
Ottawa City Council passed a resolution on October 12,
2005, calling upon the Ombudsman to investigate
inequities in the property tax system, including MPAC,
and make recommendations to remedy them. The resolution
refers to the “secretive” and non-transparent process of
property evaluations, and to appeal processes that do
not meet the minimum standards of natural justice.
The complaints received by the Ombudsman demonstrate a
prima facie case of the following two issues:
1. Ontario property owners feel the system is not
transparent and complain they are not made aware of the
criteria their property assessments are based on.
2. The owners also complain that when they contest the
valuation of their property they find the system to
consider their objections is inefficient and unfair.
Reductions in assessments are not considered and applied
from year to year.
The Ombudsman’s investigation will examine systemic
issues related to the process that MPAC follows in
arriving at property assessment values. Individuals who
would like to raise issues relating to these two themes
are encouraged to come forward and provide any
information that they think might be relevant to the
Ombudsman’s Office. Anyone who believes they have
information that might assist the Ombudsman in his
investigation, please visit our website at
www.ombudsman.on.ca or call 1-866-623-SORT (7678).
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