Queen's Park Mar 29, 2006 Ontario Ombudsman André Marin’s report, ‘Getting it Right’, on the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) was released yesterday, and Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was quick to applaud his hard work to rectify the serious concerns shared by many Ontarians regarding property assessment.

“A growing number of Simcoe-Grey residents have already contacted me to voice their concerns on property assessment. It’s clear that the Ombudsman agrees with them. What isn’t clear is whether or not the McGuinty government will take his advice and act on his recommendations,” said Wilson.

On March 28th, Ontario Ombudsman André Marin tabled the final report on his 5-month investigation into MPAC and the assessment process. Marin specifically highlighted 22 recommendations that he feels should be immediately undertaken to correct a variety of issues within the assessment process.

In response to the report, MPAC identified 20 issues which it deemed within its jurisdiction and committed to implemented 17 of them immediately. The three remaining issues need to be reviewed by MPAC before they can be implemented. These include attaching a Property Profile Report to Notices of Assessment, ensuring that customers who call are always directed to the staff member that can best assist with their specific issues and improving the accuracy of collected property information.

The final two recommendations, perhaps the most significant, are the purview of Ontario Liberal Finance Minister Dwight Duncan and relate to providing information to the public regarding the assessment process MPAC currently undertakes, which is currently protected as confidential intellectual property. The second involves shifting the burden of proof onto MPAC during the appeals process. Currently, the property owner is required to disprove MPAC’s assessment and this recommendation would in fact require MPAC to support and defend their assessment decision under appeal.

Marin had this to say about the McGuinty government’s weak response: “Some will no doubt react harshly to the Minister of Finance’s response and see it as unresponsive and dismissive. First, there is no position taken on any of the recommendations made to the Ontario government ... Second, the letter contains little apart from pleasantries such as an “acknowledgement” of our work, an iteration of a “belief” in sharing a common goal and finally, a word of appreciation to receiving our “suggestions”.” Getting It Right, page 61

Given that the 3,700 different complaints received by the Ombudsman were undoubtedly the tip of the iceberg as far as Province-wide dissatisfaction with MPAC is concerned, it is regrettable that the McGuinty government did not appear concerned with the two major changes under provincial jurisdiction that the Ombudsman recommended.

“Marin’s report is a good one and MPAC has committed to reporting back to the Ombudsman in six months on the status of the recommendations that have been implemented. The real challenge will be to convince the McGuinty government to implement the key recommendations controlled by provincial legislation that will bring fairness and transparency to the appeal process.” said Wilson.

Simcoe-Grey residents frustrated with MPAC, the assessment and the appeals processes should contact Jim directly at his constituency office at 1- 800-268-7542, by e-mail at jim.wilson@pc.ola.org or through his website at www.jimwilsonmpp.com.

For a copy of the Ombudsman’s report, visit www.ombudsman.on.ca.

Mr. Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey): Mr. Speaker: Councillor Lynn Silverton of Grey Highlands Council contacted me earlier this week to once again plead the case for more doctors in the Markdale area. Although I've raised this matter on many occasions before in this House, the McGuinty government has done very little to help alleviate the crisis situation.

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