Q4 2024

Looking ahead to delivering 2024 assessment rolls

Fall Economic Statement

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy delivered the 2024 Ontario Fall Economic Statement (FES), Building Ontario For You, on October 30. The FES includes some assessment-related developments focused on investments to address affordability for Ontarians. 

As property tax reassessments remain deferred pending the completion of the system-wide assessment and taxation review, the government is taking action to prioritize three areas identified through their consultations with stakeholders: 



• Affordable Rental Housing — Providing municipalities with the ability to reduce municipal tax rates on affordable rental housing through the creation of an optional property tax subclass. As well, the government will continue exploring potential assessment methodology changes for these properties. 
• Student Housing — Introducing a legislative amendment that would provide consistent treatment for university-operated student housing whether the institution’s property tax status is governed by the Assessment Act or an institution-specific statute. 
• Information Sharing — Undertaking work with MPAC, municipalities, and other stakeholders to enhance information sharing and develop new digital solutions, including: 
• Enabling broader municipal use of MPAC data to improve planning; 
• Evaluating new tools to help municipalities manage their assessment base; 
• Making assessment roll information available to the public through a centralized electronic platform; and 
• Authorizing digital delivery of property assessment notices. 

We will continue to keep you informed on our next steps as we learn more. In the meantime, reach out to industry@mpac.ca should you have any questions. 

Enhancements to MPAC's Assessment Information Request Program

Each year, MPAC requests property information from property owners and/or their representatives as part of our Assessment Information Request Program, including the Property Income and Expense Return (PIER) campaign. 

At the Canadian Property Tax Association conference in October, Greg Martino, Vice President and Chief Valuation & Standards Officer, shared that MPAC is making some improvements to its online collection of information. 

With properties frequently undergoing changes and market conditions continuing to evolve, MPAC requires up-to-date property information to ensure our database remains current, which supports both our delivery of annual assessment rolls and quality assessments. MPAC makes the request for information as part of its legislated mandate as outlined in section 11 of the Assessment Act.

MPAC undertakes a number of campaigns annually to support the collection of information for properties across the province. “We are excited to share that customers who submit information through AboutMyProperty during next year’s campaign will experience an enhanced interface with improved process flow,” said Greg Martino. “We want to make the online process as simple and seamless as possible.”

The improvements, aimed at streamlining the submission process for MPAC’s information collection campaigns, including PIER, will be launched in the second quarter of 2025.

Stay tuned for more information in the new year. If you have any questions, contact us at industry@mpac.ca.

On September 25, 2024, the Ministry of Finance amended Ontario Regulation 283/92, establishing a new Aggregate Extraction property class. MPAC has applied the new property class for eligible land used in aggregate extraction, such as gravel pits. Property owners will receive an updated Property Assessment Notice from MPAC this fall for the 2025 tax year.  

MPAC continues to closely monitor the implementation of these new regulations and is committed to keeping our partners informed. For more information about pit and quarry property assessment, please visit mpac.ca/pitandquarry. 

Meet Mostafa Hosseinian, a Senior Data Analyst in our Assessment Standards and Mass Appraisal branch.

Mostafa recently attended the GIS/Valuation Technologies Conference, where he took the stage to present on 'Machine Learning Explainability’. The presentation provided an overview of machine learning, the value of model explainability, the art of the possible, and how MPAC is leveraging this technology to improve decision making, accountability, and transparency.

"Machine learning is revolutionizing mass appraisal by modernizing existing toolsets and improving accuracy. MPAC’s research is also focused on building transparency to ensure machine learning is explainable in support of property valuations." 

–Mostafa Hosseinian 

MPAC holiday office closure

Please be advised that MPAC offices will close for the holidays starting at noon on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025.