Hello everyone,
I sent my email to Toronto Council via
www.NoHomeBuyingTax.com and in just a couple of hours got the following response:
QUOTE Thanks. The Toronto Real Estate Board is continuing to work hard to prevent this tax from being imposed. The more people the politicians hear from the better, and the sooner the better. The City Council vote on this is scheduled for October 22, but it could happen much sooner. Please encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to visit
www.NoHomeBuyingTax.com , which makes it easy for them to also send in their opinions.
Regards,
Mauro Ritacca
Manager, Government Relations
Toronto Real Estate Board
416-443-8000 ext. 8043
And here are 2 more replys:
From Councillor Del Grande
QUOTE Thank you for the email expressing concerns with the new taxes in Toronto. From listening to or watching Council debates, you may already know that I am continually opposed to tax increases.
In November of 2006, Torontonians voted to re-elect Mayor David Miller. The new taxes are proposed by the Mayor and like-minded Councillors.
Miller and company quietly introduced a BED TAX of $75 per hospital and student resident bed? More are in the background.br />
How many more taxes can the city endure?
Ask this question. Why as the most qualified member of council a Chartered Accountant with 20 years of budgeting experience am I not allowed to be on the budget committee?
Please contact Mayor Miller directly, to express your concerns:
[email protected]
416-397-2489 (T)
416-696-3687 (F)
And from Councillor Joe Mihevc
QUOTE Thank you very much for your email. I appreciate hearing from you and applaud your outreach and sense of civic engagement.
I too am very concerned about the future of our city and the possible gutting of the services that make our city great. I further believe that the land transfer tax and the vehicle registration fee are the least harmful tools available to the City of Toronto raise the needed revenue for this city to succeed.
I oppose the closing of community centres and libraries, and the reduction of public services. I understand however, that we need to find a way of funding them, especially in light of the failure of the provincial government to address the downloading that has ccurred over the last decade.
I will be voting in support of the new tax tools and the reversal of the impending cuts. This to me is the fair and sensible thing to do for the following reasons:
-A land transfer tax is a key part of the solution to Toronto`s financial challenges.
-The land transfer tax is a fair and sustainable revenue stream to support essential city services. We will keep our property taxes on annual basis lower in Toronto if we use the land transfer tax. This will leave more money in the hands of the public and help the economy. That`s why I support the land transfer tax.
-The City of Toronto`s house is in order and all creative solutions have been considered.
-A Toronto land transfer tax won`t hurt those who least can afford it, such as first-time buyers and seniors. In fact, the current proposal protects seniors, renters and those on fixed incomes from the impact of double-digit property tax increases.
-Introducing the land transfer tax will keep annual property taxes low and leave more money in the hands of the public which in turn helps the economy.
-Using this tax will to relieve pressure on annual property tax assessment will also lower the carrying costs of a new home. This is another reason why people outside the real estate industry support this tax.
-Some say with the proposed Toronto land transfer tax, Toronto would have the highest land transfer taxes in Canada and the second highest in North America, this is simply NOT TRUE.
-Provincial action is also required to address Toronto`s financial challenges. The provincial government must adequately support Toronto.
Thanks for letting your voice be heard. It is important that City Council get this right.
Joe Mihevc
