Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Toronto city councillors to reject Mayor Olivia Chow’s proposal to increase residential property taxes by 6.9 per cent this year, which comes on the heels of last year’s 9.5 per cent increase.

“The last thing cash-strapped families can afford is a major property tax hike,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “Toronto families are struggling with the soaring costs of everything from groceries to home heating. City hall should be looking for ways to help, not making those struggles much tougher with a huge tax hike.”

The average assessed home value in Toronto is $692,031. A family that owns that home would see property taxes rise by $268 under Chow’s plan.

“The average family’s grocery bill will be up by $800 this year,” Goldberg said. “More than 443,000 Ontarians are working more than one job just to make ends meet. Hardworking taxpayers cannot afford to fork out hundreds of dollars extra in property taxes to fund Toronto’s bloated budget.”

Chow’s proposed property tax increase would mean a combined property tax increase of 16.4 per cent during her first two years in office.