During the fall legislative sitting, there was a private member’s bill brought forward that would allow seniors to defer their property taxes until their home is sold. This proposed program would be based on a similar successful program from British Columbia. The BC program is administered by the province and allows any senior to apply, as long as there is a minimum equity in their house of 75 per cent. More information on the BC model is available here.

While the bill died on the order paper when the fall session closed, there were commitments made to the media to bring it back as a government bill in the future.

The details of the program have not been established, but the AAMDC has made it clear to the Minister of Seniors and the Minister of Municipal Affairs that municipalities should not bear the brunt of the tax deferral. While the AAMDC is pleased to see the government offering financial assistance options for seniors living on fixed incomes, our position is that the administration and funding should be taken on by the province, so as to not affect municipal budgeting processes. If the idea of a property tax deferral program for seniors is reintroduced, the AAMDC will reiterate this position.

Enquiries may be directed to:

Attachments:

01 11 12 Seniors Property Tax Deferral Bill.pdf