Permissive Property Tax Exemptions

WHEREAS the Community Charter imposes restrictions for a municipality to grant permissive property tax exemptions to property owners leasing to not-for-profit groups; AND WHEREAS this places not-for-profit groups, who provide much needed services to the community, at a disadvantage, as they have to allocate scarce funds towards property tax and creates inequities whereby not-for-profit groups carry different tax burdens, therefore putting groups required to lease in financial hardship: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government amend the Community Charter to permit permissive exemptions to property owners leasing to not-for-profit groups, and that a mechanism be established to ensure that the not-for-profit group receives the benefit.