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October/November 2024

Fall Economic Statement

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy delivered the 2024 Ontario Fall Economic Statement (FES), Building Ontario For You, on October 30. The FES includes some positive assessment-related developments 

focused on investments to address 

affordability for Ontarians. As property tax reassessments remain deferred pending the completion of the system-wide assessment and taxation review, the government is taking action to prioritize three areas identified through their consultations with stakeholders:

  • Affordable Rental Housing — Providing municipalities with the ability to reduce municipal tax rates on affordable rental housing through the creation of an optional property tax subclass. As well, the government will continue exploring potential assessment methodology changes for these properties. 
  • Student Housing — Introducing a legislative amendment that would provide consistent treatment for university-operated student housing whether the institution’s property tax status is governed by the Assessment Act or an institution-specific statute.
  • Information Sharing — Undertaking work with MPAC, municipalities, and other stakeholders to enhance information sharing and develop new digital solutions, including: 
    • Enabling broader municipal use of MPAC data to improve planning; 
    • Evaluating new tools to help municipalities manage their assessment base; 
    • Making assessment roll information available to the public through a centralized electronic platform; and 
    • Authorizing digital delivery of property assessment notices.

MPAC has actively contributed its insights and expertise throughout the review process, and we are pleased to see that some of our collaborative contributions are reflected in this announcement. We are dedicated to advancing these priorities through meaningful partnerships with municipalities. By working together, we can enhance service delivery, leverage data more effectively, and develop solutions that address your unique needs, benefiting communities across Ontario.


We will continue to keep you informed on our next steps as we learn more. In the meantime, reach out to a member of your Municipal and Stakeholder Relations Team should you have any questions.  

     

Year-end key dates and MPAC product deliveries

We are pleased to share that our work to finalize the 2024 roll is nearly complete, and we are on track to capture more than $42 billion of new assessment across the province for the second consecutive year. We recognize the vital role new assessment plays for our municipal partners in supporting your planning and budgeting efforts.

 

This month, our focus has shifted to preparing for year-end municipal products and distributing over 632,000 Property Assessment Notices, which reflect changes to property ownership, classification or value that occurred this year across Ontario.

 

To support property owners, we ask that you direct any questions about their Property Assessment Notice to the Understanding Your Assessment page on mpac.ca. Here, they can access information about Ontario’s property assessment and taxation system, the different types of notices and notifications they may receive and content from our First-time Homeowners Hub that answers many common questions about homeownership. 

 

To ensure you are fully prepared for the end-of-year activities, here is a summary of key dates and MPAC product deliveries for the remainder of 2024:

October 30     

2024 Q3 New Assessment Forecast and 2024 Preliminary New Assessment Forecast available in the My Products portal of Municipal Connect.

November 4   29

Final 2024 Control Totals available in Municipal Connect

November 12 – 21  

Property Assessment Notices mailed

Week of November 25       

Municipal Change Profile (MCP) available in the My Products portal of Municipal Connect

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Year-end Tax File available in the My Products portal of Municipal Connect

November 28 – December 9

Assessment Roll for 2025 Taxation delivery

Week of December 2         

Municipal Connect available for the 2025 Tax Year

Week of December 16      

2025 Municipal Levy Letter delivery

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

2024 Municipal Partnership Report and Municipal Assessment Change Summary delivery to Municipal Administrators

Week of December 23

First Quarter 2025 Levy invoice delivery      

Week of January 13, 2025

2024 Municipal Partnerships Report delivery to Heads of Council and Clerks


We look forward to wrapping up another successful year and setting the stage for an even more impactful 2025 for your communities. Thank you for your invaluable partnership and ongoing commitment to building strong, resilient communities together.

     

Implementation of New Aggregate Extraction Property Class for 2025 Taxation


In late September, the Minister of Finance filed O. Reg. 370/24 to amend section 2 of O. Reg. 282/98 to add and establish a new property class called the Aggregate Extraction property class. The amendment is applicable to the 2025 and subsequent taxation years.

 

To prepare the 2024 assessment roll for the 2025 taxation year, MPAC has developed a plan to implement the new regulation and update the impacted properties.

 

The majority of the updates have been completed and are now visible in Municipal Connect. New code combinations will be shared with Reamined and municipal vendors and MPAC will continue to support the Ministry of Finance by providing updates on the implementation of the regulation and information on impacted properties.

 

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this change or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

   

Resources you can use

 

We’ve updated the Municipal Sector Resources page to better support your needs and equip you with the tools for effective communication and outreach to property owners!

 

One of the key highlights is the refreshed Home Values MatterToolkit, which includes engaging shareable social media content and graphics. We’ve also created a ready-to-print buck slip featuring our free online tool, AboutMyPropertyTM. This resource, available in the  AboutMyProperty Toolkit, can be easily incorporated into your mailings or used as a graphic on your website to help property owners discover the advantages of using this valuable tool.

 

While exploring the page, don’t miss our other toolkits: First-time Homeowners’ Hub and School Support Designation. These materials can assist you in addressing common questions and can be easily integrated into newsletters and social media channels.

 

We encourage you to use these resources, share your feedback, and let us know how else we can support you!

Data spotlight: Prioritizing climate action and energy efficiency

In the last issue of InTouch, we highlighted how our data strategy was a key focus of our session at the  Association of Municipalities of  Ontario  (AMO) conference. There are so many ways that municipalities and property owners can leverage our data to make informed decisions for the future. For example, municipalities are increasingly  prioritizing climate action and energy efficiency. MPAC can provide data that supports these initiatives, like the Municipal Energy Plan Program.

MPAC’s data encompasses various property types within municipal boundaries, offering detailed information that allows municipalities to assess current energy use and identify opportunities for improvement. This valuable information supports the strategic, long-term development of robust climate action plans that address specific local needs.

 

Municipalities can use data to create accurate energy models, aiding in formulating energy conservation initiatives and programs. Creating public energy models based on aggregated MPAC data can also help ignite conservation efforts at a community level, fostering a collaborative approach to energy efficiency.

 

You can read more about our Data Strategy and how some municipalities are leveraging our data on mpac.ca.

     

In case you missed it

MPAC Property Insights and Meeting the Evolving Needs of Our Partners – A Municipal Update


President and CAO, Nicole McNeill, Acting Vice-President, Valuation and Customer Relations, Dan Devellis, and Vice-President, Public Affairs and Customer Experience, Jamie Bishop, presented MPAC’s annual municipal update. The presentation included information on our data strategy and leveraging MPAC data for informed decision-making, recent operational highlights, property insights and market trends. A Q+A session followed the presentation.

To view recordings of all past webinars, visit mpac.ca or our YouTube Channel.

     

Fall conference roundup

Photos clockwise from top left:  Association française des municipalités de l’Ontario (AFMO) Conference; Ontario East Municipal Conference (OEMC) Conference; Ontario Municipal Tax and Revenue Association (OMTRA) Conference; Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) Conference; Ontario Municipal Administrators Association (OMAA) Fall Workshop; Municipal Finance Officers’ Association (MFOA) Conference; Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus  (WOWC) Conference; International Plowing Match (IPM).

As we wrap up another year of municipal conferences, we reflect on the invaluable insights and connections made and are inspired to start planning next year’s events. Thank you to everyone who attended our sessions and dropped by our booth. See you in January at ROMA!

We’re better together

 

MPAC is dedicated to building stronger partnerships with municipalities across Ontario, and your local Municipal and Stakeholder Relations team is here to support you.


Want more information about who we are and how we can work with your municipality? Reach out to your local Municipal and Stakeholder Relations Team to book an information session for your staff or municipal council. Need Municipal Connect training? We can help with that, too.