The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-03-16, Page 52The Farm Edition, Welk of March 16, 1983 - 19
Tax rebate proposal. won't ero
®from page 4
This would have been a
major achievement for Ont-
ario farmers, putting them
on a similar base as several
other provinces that do not
levy taxes on farm property.
Many rural municipal of-
ficials viewed this idea with
alarm. It . appeared they
would lose a large part of
their assessment base. This
caused the proposal to be
delayed over a year and to be
changed to a rebate to the
farmer of the taxes accruing
from this agricultural prop-
erty assessment rather than
that portion being tax ex-
empt.
While viewing this change
as a less desirable comprom-
ise, OFA urged the govern-
ment to proceed, so farmers
would have a legislated, fair
policy to base the payment of
their municipal taxes.
The new policy is designed
to return approximately the
same number of dollars as
the fifty . per cent rebate,
perhaps marginally more.
The farmer will be paying
taxes on the assessment of
his house and a deemed lot.
In order for him to qualify
for the rebate, he will have to
earn a gross income of twelve
thousand dollars. Not high
but a serious obstacle for
people in some areas. OFA
has not agreed to this and
will continue to work for a
more equitable qualification
level.
It has been brought to my
attention there are some
people vocally opposing this
e farmers' rights
taxation policy change. Un-
der the new policy, the gov-
ernment will not be paying
farmers taxes; nor is there
any basis for fearing any loss
of property rights. The own-
ership of property is record-
ed on the deed and is regist-
ered at the registry office.
In summary. this proposal
is designed to: provide an
equitable tax system for bona
fide farmers; provide com-
parable tax treatment of farm,
residences and similar resid-
. ences in the same community
and remove the distorting
influence of farmland from
the equalization process used
for distribution of Provincial
grants, Non-residents of
Canada will not qualify.
We have not yet seen the
Government's final draft of
this legislation but hopefully
this outline of the proposals
will help people to assess the
policy more objectively.
Merle Gunby,
OFA Director.
11,1
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0.1110'q'\
Huron federation opposes proposed rural land tax rebate
The Huron County Feder-
ation of Agriculture has
voted to oppose the 100 per
cent proposed rural land tax
rebate.
Although not unanimous
president of the Federation,
Tony McQuail said 48 mem-
bers at a March 3 meeting in
Blyth were in favour of a
resolution to oppose the pro-
posed tax rebate and a
second resolution that a Fed-
eration task force develop an
alternative to the present 50
per cent tax rebate and avoid
the proposed rebate of. 100
per cent on far land and
outbuildings. He said 25
were opposed to both the
resolutions.
Wingham area farmer Jim
Armstrong said he is oppos-
ed to the principle of the 100
per cent tax rebate. He said
farmers 'are stewards of the
land" and fears for the right
to private land ownership if
the program becomes fact.
McQuail explained the
monthly meeting was not
held to discuss the, rebate.
"Those opposed got their
membership out. As presid-
ent, I have to work on the
decision of the Federation.
Voicing his personal
views, McQuail felt "the
meeting may not have been
fully representative of farm-
ers of Huron County. The
general farm membership
was not aware the proposed
rebate would be a major item
discussed."
"The motion was made
late in the meeting and is
poorly worded. It does not
give direction." McQuail
was concerned with the reso-
lution which in part states,
that the federation opposed
the proposed tax. ° 'That
doesn't even say if it's
property tax laws."
He noted the 100 per cent
rebate will do more to
equalize tax payments be-
tween urban and rural resid-
ents. "It is a rebate of taxes
the farmer has already
paid." In an effort to take
education taxes off land,
McQuail explained a 25 per
cent farm tax rebate was
iniated by the provincial
government in 1971. The
rebate was increased to 50
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Armstrong says he is de-
bating the proposed rebate
on "principle only. People
have to be made aware of the
whole story. They should
realize there could be a lot of
implications. The rebate will
benefit approximately half of
the rural landowners initially
but we have to look down the
road. The government has
method in their madness.
They are not going to give
something away for noth-
ing."
The tax rebate system has
been studied, says Arm-
strong. "There is an alterna-
tive." He explained property
assessment is based on an
index. "All the government
has to do is lower the index
figure to take the education
tax portion off land. The
additional $20 million which
would be rebated to land-
owners with the 100 per cent
proposal could be sent direct-
ly to the board of education.
Therefore, townships won't
lose assessment and the
townships are saved from
collecting education tax." He
noted that "53 per cent of my
total tax bill goes to educa-
tion."
"We hope the government
will rethink the matter. Our
ancestors never passed a
mess onto us. We owe a
responsibility to future gen-
erations. Basically, we don't
trust the government. "-
During the meeting, Mc -
Quail asked the group how
many were not claiming the
50 per cent rebate. "Not one
person put up their hand."
He explained farmers have
said they are being over-
taxed. "Shifting to a 100 per
cent rebate and a residential
assessment, farmers will be
equalized to their rural urban
neighbours. Farmers should
keep in mind that if farm
land and residential assess-
ment are equal, the rebate
would be the same."
Noting people don't trust
government, McQuail says
this has resulted in many
being upset because they
think property rights may be
lost."That is always a valid
concern. Farm organizations
make sure property and
Turn to page 24•
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