HAPPENING NOW
Toronto vacant home tax to come into effect next year: city council
The City of Toronto has approved a plan for a vacant house tax. (CTV News Toronto)
TORONTO -
On Thursday, Toronto City Council approved a plan for the implementation of a new tax on the city's vacant homes starting in 2022.
A ‘vacant’ home is one that has been unoccupied for more than six months during the last calendar year, or it is deemed to be vacant under the new by-law, says the city.
According to the city, the decision is meant to “help with the availability and affordability of housing stock on the market” and could generate between $55 to $66 million in tax revenue per year.
There are some exceptions to what is considered vacant, including the death of the owner, homes under renovations, snowbirds’ homes or homes where the owner is in medical care.
As part of the plan, property owners will be required to declare the status of their residential home each year, determining the home’s occupancy status and whether the tax is payable. This will be available to be done online or via mail. The responsibility to declare a property is on the owner, says the city.
The initial tax rate will be set at one per cent of the property's current value assessment (CVA) for the year in which the home is vacant.
The city says a final report and tax bylaw will be prepared for Council's review by the end of 2021.
A bylaw supporting this tax will come into effect on January 1, 2022 and that date will also become the start of the first tax reference year.
“I’m happy to see Council approved a vacant home tax today,” Mayor John Tory said in a release issued by the city on the decision.
“While a majority of Toronto property owners will not pay this tax, the benefits will be felt across the city by increasing the availability and affordability of housing supply.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Four in 10 child patients face unsafe spinal surgery wait times in Canada: report
Four out of ten child patients in Canada are facing unsafe spinal surgery wait times, which could cost the health-care system $44.6 million, according to a new report that was published Monday.
Prioritize disadvantaged people for primary care and screening access, report says
A group of Canadian doctors, nurses and other health-care providers has issued recommendations on how to make health care more equitable for disadvantaged people.
House Speaker Anthony Rota apologizes after inviting man who fought for Nazis to Parliament
Several Jewish advocacy organizations condemned members of Parliament on Sunday for giving a standing ovation to a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War.
RCMP demolish last structure at Quebec's Roxham Road migrant crossing
The last RCMP building is coming down at Roxham Road, which became an unofficial border crossing used by more than 100,000 migrants crossing into Canada from Upstate New York to apply for asylum since 2017.
Toronto woman hospitalized overseas with botulism
A Toronto woman has been hospitalized in France with a severe case of botulism after eating improperly preserved sardines at a Bordeaux wine bar.
Writers Guild and Hollywood studios reach tentative deal to end strike. No deal yet for actors
Union leaders and Hollywood studios reached a tentative agreement Sunday to end a historic screenwriters strike after nearly five months, though no deal is yet in the works for striking actors.
Russian strikes in Ukraine's city of Odessa damage port, grain silo and an abandoned hotel
A Russian drone and missile strike near Odesa damaged infrastructure, a grain silo and an abandoned hotel and injured one person in the Black Sea port city as attacks elsewhere in Ukraine killed five civilians and wounded 13 in the past day, Ukrainian officials said Monday.
Taylor Swift turns out to see Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs play Chicago Bears
Travis Kelce put the ball in Taylor Swift's court, and she wound up bringing it to Arrowhead Stadium after all. Call it what you want. It's out of the woods now.
B.C. deer are stressed during wildfires, and the proof is in their poop: researchers
Proof that deer experienced elevated stress in response to wildfires in British Columbia's southern Interior can be found in their poop, although researchers say there's still much to learn about what increasingly severe blazes mean for wildlife.
Montreal
-
Coroner's inquest opens into killings of three Quebec men chosen at random
A coroner's inquest opening in Montreal today will look into the deaths of three men seemingly killed at random over a 24-hour span last August.
-
RCMP demolish last structure at Quebec's Roxham Road migrant crossing
The last RCMP building is coming down at Roxham Road, which became an unofficial border crossing used by more than 100,000 migrants crossing into Canada from Upstate New York to apply for asylum since 2017.
-
Quebec conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin prepared Bradley Cooper for 'Maestro' role
Montreal conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin says he employed a secret weapon in teaching Bradley Cooper how to conduct like Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming biopic "Maestro" -- an earpiece.
London
-
Veltman murder trial: Here’s what you need to know before day 12
The officers who arrived on scene after the arrest of Nathaniel Veltman in a west London, Ont. parking lot minutes after the Afzaal family was run down took the stand on Friday. Here’s what you need to know before the trial resumes on Monday.
-
London resident charged in fatal west end stabbing
A 33-year-old London resident has been charged with second degree murder in connection to a fatal stabbing Friday morning.
-
Fatal vehicle roll over in Plympton-Wyoming
One person has died after an off-road vehicle rolled over on a farm property in Plympton-Wyoming Friday night, police say.
Kitchener
-
'I will never stop': Joshua Bennett's mother still seeking answers on two-year anniversary of his murder
Felisha Bennett is holding onto hope that someone will come forward with information on the murder of her 18-year-old son, Joshua Bennett, who was found dead on a Kitchener trail in 2021.
-
Reports of assault with conductive energy weapon in University District leads to arrest
Waterloo regional police have arrested a man after reports of an assault with a conductive energy weapon in the University District Saturday afternoon.
-
Another helmet added to Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Kitchener
A special ceremony was held in Kitchener Sunday to honour fallen firefighters, including Michael Pearce. A helmet with his name on it is the 18th added to the memorial.
Northern Ontario
-
Highway 11 closed from North Bay to Marten River
A crash on Highway 11 early Monday morning has closed the road in both directions from North Bay to Marten River, police say.
-
Man hospitalized in life-threatening condition after incident at Calgary pub holding eating contest
Calgary paramedics took a man to hospital in life-threatening condition on Saturday after an incident at the Ship and Anchor pub.
-
15-year-old dirt bike rider critically injured in collision with vehicle in Huntsville
A 15-year-old riding a dirt bike was rushed to a trauma centre in critical condition following a collision in Huntsville.
Ottawa
-
Boy, 3, dies after falling from Ottawa high-rise
Ottawa police confirm a three-year-old boy has died after falling from an apartment on Donald Street Sunday afternoon.
-
NEW THIS MORNING
NEW THIS MORNING Above average temperatures for first week of fall
It's the first week of fall and there is plenty of sunshine and slightly above average temperatures in the forecast.
-
House Speaker Anthony Rota apologizes after inviting man who fought for Nazis to Parliament
Several Jewish advocacy organizations condemned members of Parliament on Sunday for giving a standing ovation to a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War.
Windsor
-
'A laser is not a toy': OPP investigate laser pointed at aircraft
Essex County OPP responded to a dangerous conditions report in Belle River Friday night after it was reported someone had been shining a laser at an airplane.
-
Veltman murder trial: Here’s what you need to know before day 12
The officers who arrived on scene after the arrest of Nathaniel Veltman in a west London, Ont. parking lot minutes after the Afzaal family was run down took the stand on Friday. Here’s what you need to know before the trial resumes on Monday.
-
Volunteers build beds for kids in need
An army of volunteers gathered in Windsor Sunday to build beds for kids in need.
Barrie
-
HAPPENING NOW
HAPPENING NOW Highway 400 south of Barrie closed due to fatal collision involving pedestrian
A portion of Highway 400 through Innisfil, south of Barrie, is closed Monday morning for a collision.
-
15-year-old dirt bike rider critically injured in collision with vehicle in Huntsville
A 15-year-old riding a dirt bike was rushed to a trauma centre in critical condition following a collision in Huntsville.
-
Police appeal for help finding Barrie woman who disappeared nearly 2 weeks ago
Police are appealing to the public for help finding a missing Barrie woman who disappeared nearly two weeks ago.
Atlantic
-
Four in 10 child patients face unsafe spinal surgery wait times in Canada: report
Four out of ten child patients in Canada are facing unsafe spinal surgery wait times, which could cost the health-care system $44.6 million, according to a new report that was published Monday.
-
RCMP investigate fatal crash in Plympton, N.S.
Digby RCMP are investigating a single-vehicle crash that took the life of one person in Plympton, N.S.
-
A year after Fiona, a traumatized Newfoundland town backs away from the sea
One year after a wave driven by post-tropical storm Fiona slammed into the back of her house and twisted it like a corkscrew, some residents of Port aux Basques, N.L., are backing away from the sea.
Calgary
-
Death of man in Pineridge home investigated by Calgary police
Calgary police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in the community of Pineridge on Sunday.
-
Cougar caught on camera in southwest Calgary
A southwest Calgary resident is raising the alarm after he snapped a photo of a cougar within city limits.
-
Family of Calgary man who was fatally stabbed at Marlborough Station holds vigil, calls for increased transit security
A vigil was being held on Sunday night for a Calgary man who was stabbed to death at the Marlborough Ctrain station last weekend.
Winnipeg
-
Attacks ramp up as parties continue campaigning for Oct. 3 Manitoba election
Manitoba's party leaders stepped up their attacks over the weekend in a bid to gain momentum heading into the final full week of the provincial election campaign.
-
'Everyone deserves to be who they are': Rally for Trans Youth in Winnipeg responds to anti-LGBTQ2S+ protests
Thousands gathered at the Manitoba Legislature Sunday in a massive show of support for Winnipeg's LGBTQ2S+ community.
-
Four in 10 child patients face unsafe spinal surgery wait times in Canada: report
Four out of ten child patients in Canada are facing unsafe spinal surgery wait times, which could cost the health-care system $44.6 million, according to a new report that was published Monday.
Vancouver
-
'A hero remembered never dies': Memorial honouring fallen police officers held in Victoria
Emotions were raw as hundreds gathered at the B.C. Legislature Sunday afternoon to honour the police officers who were killed in the line of duty.
-
Caught on camera: Maple Ridge tea shop vandalized with smoke bomb
T’s Once Upon A Tea Leaf, a tea shop in Maple Ridge, has been vandalized for the second time and the owners believe it was targeted.
-
One dead after shooting in Richmond: RCMP
Homicide investigators were called to Richmond after a shooting early Sunday morning.
Edmonton
-
Fallen Alberta officers receive tribute in Edmonton Sunday
A sombre ceremony was held Sunday outside the Alberta legislature to honour the province's police and peace officers who were killed in the line of duty.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Josh Classen's forecast: 2 more days around 20 C
Two more days with afternoon highs of 20 or 21 C in Edmonton.
-
Russian strikes in Ukraine's city of Odessa damage port, grain silo and an abandoned hotel
A Russian drone and missile strike near Odesa damaged infrastructure, a grain silo and an abandoned hotel and injured one person in the Black Sea port city as attacks elsewhere in Ukraine killed five civilians and wounded 13 in the past day, Ukrainian officials said Monday.
