Opposition leader Blaine Higgs is calling it a major scandal. He’s referring to the latest revelation on increases in property tax assessments.
Higgs read from an email that was sent by Service New Brunswick’s Residential co-ordinator Matthew Johnson to 11 assessment officials which stated because there wasn’t enough time to find out what, if any, renovations were carried out by March 1st, it was decided to invent renovation amounts for each home. Higgs is claiming this is a way to avoid the 10 per cent cap on any increase unless there are renovations.
Premier Brian Gallant says his government has only become aware of the revelation because of a whistleblower and vows his government will rectify the situation, saying one error is too many.
Gallant is pledging in the next few months, if anyone has had a mistake in their property assessment, it will be made right.
Higgs is calling on whichever minister is responsible, be it Local Government Minister Serge Rouselle or Service New Brunswick Minister Ed Doherty, to resign.
Provincial Green Party leader David Coon is calling for Commission of Inquiry to be established to reform the property tax system in New Brunswick.
The Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Association Kevin Lacey says property tax assessments should be done by independent assessors.