NDP calls on Government to limit assessment increases

Friday October 17, 2003

Yarmouth – NDP Critic for Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Michele Raymond says that the Hamm government should introduce changes to control skyrocketing property assessments, or call for debate on Bill 9 which was introduced by the NDP on October 6.

“Municipal leaders have said that this issue remains one of their top priorities for action,� says Raymond. “Any time it has been raised, however, Minister Barnet spends time talking about perceived shortcomings in the NDP bill, rather than what his government will do. I challenge him to either introduce his own legislation, or call ours for debate.�

Raymond is attending the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities’ (UNSM) annual meeting in Yarmouth. During the meeting, municipal leaders have raised a number of concerns about their ability to work with the government to resolve issues. Barnet pledged to work with municipalities about their concerns.

“If he says he’s willing to work with them, then why doesn’t he want to work with us on assessment legislation? His party has steadfastly refused to do anything to limit assessment increases over the past few years; it’s time they took some action,� says Raymond. “This minority government is supposed to be working for Nova Scotians, and we stand ready to deal with any workable solutions they bring forward. But in the absence of any of their own proposals, they refuse to deal with ours.�

Raymond said any solution to the skyrocketing assessments should be done through legislation – a more public and open process – and not regulations determined by the provincial Cabinet alone.

The NDP MLA also noted that municipal leaders expressed concern about home and business insurance increases, and pointed out that her party has secured government agreement to have the new Insurance Review Board investigate these important issues.

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