The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendation of the Budget Committee embodied in the following transmittal letter (April 1, 1998) from the Budget Committee:

Recommendation:

The Budget Committee on March 31, 1998, recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, and Council, the adoption of the recommendations approved by York Community Council at its special meeting held on March 9, 1998.

Background:

The Budget Committee on March 31, 1998, had before it a letter of transmittal (March 13, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that York Community Council on March 9, 1998, adopted the following recommendations:

(a) the Commissioner of Finance be requested to report on the feasibility of sending out a separate property tax notice that clearly indicates to businesses the percentage of the property that is the direct result of the new provincial tax changes;

(b) the Commissioner of Finance be requested to also report on setting a new tax classification for all provincial buildings and land located in the City of Toronto, with the appropriate tax rate set for these properties to reflect the extra charges faced by Toronto businesses as a result of the Education Business Tax; and

(c) public information meetings be held, appropriately advertised in the ridings of every Conservative MPP in the City of Toronto, to inform the public of the impact of the provincial tax changes, and that each MPP be invited to participate in these meetings.

Councillor Frances Nunziata, York Humber, appeared before the Budget Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

(Transmittal letter dated March 13, 1998, addressed to the

Budget Committee from the

York Community Council)

Recommendations:

The York Community Council on March 9, 1998, recommended to the Budget Committee that:

(1) the Commissioner of Finance be requested to report on the feasibility of sending out a separate property tax notice that clearly indicates to businesses the percentage of the property tax that is the direct result of the new provincial tax changes;

(2) the Commissioner of Finance be requested to also report on setting a new tax classification for all provincial buildings and land located in the City of Toronto, with the appropriate tax rate set for these properties to reflect the extra charges faced by Toronto businesses as a result of the Education Business Tax; and

(3) public information meetings be held, appropriately advertised in the ridings of every Conservative MPP in the City of Toronto, to inform the public of the impact of the provincial tax changes, and that each MPP be invited to participate in these meetings.

The Community Council reports, for the information of the Budget Committee, having:

(i) expressed to City Council its unanimous opposition to the provincial government's changes to the taxation system and the downloading of services to the City of Toronto;

(ii) recommended to City Council the endorsement of the placement of petition forms in all City of Toronto libraries, Civic Centres and City-owned buildings, for members of the public to register their opposition to these changes; and

(iii) invited all the commercial and residential property owners present at the Special Meeting of March 9, 1998, to attend at Metro Hall with their tax bills to voice their concerns to members of Council.

Background:

The York Community Council held a Special Meeting on March 9, 1998, to hear deputations from the public with regard to the increase in assessment for residential, commercial and industrial properties.

The following persons appeared before the Community Council and made submissions in connection with the foregoing matter:

- Mr. Peter Viducis, City of Toronto, Economic Development Division; and made a verbal presentation with respect thereto;

- Mr. Joseph Cordiano, MPP, Lawrence;

- Mr. Gerard Kennedy, MPP, York South;

- Ms. Charlcie Stickley, York Federation of Ratepayers;

- Ms. Marjorie Sutton, Mt. Dennis Ratepayers;

- Mr. Joe Brosky, Roseland Ratepayers;

- Mr. John Kiru, Weston Business Improvement Area;

- Mr. Barry Lowe, Chair, Weston Business Improvement Area;

- Mr. Pat Rocca;

- Mr. George Burgess;

- Mr. Charles Sammut;

- Mr. Gord Burgess;

- Mr. Russ Brown;

- Mr. Sidney Fisher;

- Mr. Karl Stankov;

- Mr. Glenn Webster;

- Mr. Nick Solakos;

- Mr. Steve Tassos;

- Ms. Marie Critchlow;

- Mr. Ray Domian; and

- Mr. Dave Vaughan