Reflecting on our Municipal Engagement Survey results |
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Collaboration with our municipal partners has become more important than ever. Throughout the pandemic, we continued to look for opportunities to connect and share insights and information about property assessments and Ontario’s changing property landscape.
At the start of the year, we sent out a survey to a range of municipal staff, elected officials and CAOs in all municipalities across the province to gauge the effectiveness of our communication and interaction with these stakeholder groups.
Survey results showed that any recollection of an interaction with MPAC, or frequent engagements with MPAC, left respondents with a positive impression of the organization. Satisfaction with local Account Managers shone through, with 95% of respondents reporting a positive relationship with their MPAC representatives.
With the survey active for just over a week, we received a total of 346 responses and the responses showed us that we have continued to strengthen local relationships and in return, consistently receive positive feedback. Favourable impressions of MPAC have increased from 57% in 2019 to 78% in 2020, with most respondents identifying that the majority of the content they receive from us is valuable to them.
With opportunities to improve our relationships and communication, we have continued to build positive relationships with our partners and stakeholders. We thank all those who responded to our survey and value your feedback and ongoing collaboration.
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MPAC partners with TRREB and CREA on event for Ontario REALTORS® |
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We recently hosted a special event for Ontario REALTORS® on the current state of the real estate market.
MPAC’s Greg Martino, Vice-President and Chief Valuation and Standards Officer, along with Jason Mercer, Chief Market Analyst and Director of Service Channels, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, and Shaun Cathcart, Chief Economist, Canadian Real Estate Association, each shared insights on how the pandemic has impacted the market and how these current trends may change the way we live and work indefinitely.
Participants were also given information on how REALTORS® can use MPAC products to leverage our Automated Valuation Model (AVM), to improve customer confidence and gain a professional edge.
Watch a recording of the event and hear what trends are arising in today’s real estate market.
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How the pandemic is impacting property sectors in Ontario |
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Join MPAC subject matter experts for an overview and discussion on MPAC’s analysis and insights into how the pandemic has impacted property sectors across Ontario, including residential, retail, hospitality and industrial sectors, among others.
Subject Matter Experts/Speakers:
- Chris Rickett, Director, Municipal and Stakeholder Relations
- Joe Regina, Director, Valuation and Assessment Standards
As always, there will be time for your questions.
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Date: Monday, August 30
Time: 1 to 2 p.m. EDT
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MPAC at AMO 2021 conference |
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The COVID-19 pandemic changed our communities and our plans. We continue to focus on supporting the changing needs of municipalities by adapting, innovating and championing modernization, both within our business and related to our products and services. We are also looking ahead to a future province-wide Assessment Update. Join us to learn about how property values in Ontario have changed since 2016 and the ways we continue to support property owners in understanding their assessments.
Our update is scheduled for Monday, August 16 from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. and features remarks by:
- Al Spacek, Chair, MPAC Board of Directors
- Nicole McNeill, MPAC President and Chief Administrative Officer
- Carmelo Lipsi, MPAC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
- Allan Doheny, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance
We will also hosting a session that looks at regional market trends in real estate, and will be participating on a panel about e-permitting.
Our session includes a question and answer period and we welcome your questions in advance, sent to Julia Lipman, and live during our session. We encourage your questions so we can talk about the items that matter most to you!
If your municipality would like to meet with MPAC staff virtually during the AMO conference regarding a local property assessment issue, please reach out to Jason Hagan to make arrangements.
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With the support of Account Manager, Jon Hebden and other MPAC staff, the City of Kitchener undertook a successful review of its city-owned properties that are subject to taxation, which resulted in savings to the municipality and worthwhile data corrections and updates. To support the review, MPAC staff reviewed the value and tax status of 5 city-owned properties.
“Our review took place during the pandemic, and MPAC staff used pictures we provided, building plans and phone interviews to verify the information they needed without being able to conduct on-site inspections,” says Amboka Wameyo, Property Assessment Analyst, City of Kitchener. “As a result of our review and MPAC’s support, adjustments to more than half of the properties that were reviewed led to savings in taxes payable, either through value decline or change in tax status.”
Changes to municipal buildings can happen throughout the year, such as new tenants, and some changes may impact the building’s tax class or result in a change in use. Periodically reviewing key properties and sharing current information with MPAC supports municipal assessment base management and helps ensure fair and equitable assessment.
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