The City of Toronto’s controversial vacant home tax program has hit a major roadblock as the person responsible for its rollout is no longer with the city, according to Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão.
In an interview with CP24, Bailão revealed that the individual in charge of implementing the program has left their position, leaving the city scrambling to find a solution.
“The person responsible for the vacant home tax program is no longer with the city,” Bailão said. “We are currently working on finding a replacement and ensuring that the program is properly implemented.”
The vacant home tax, which was approved by city council in 2017, aims to address the issue of vacant properties in Toronto by imposing a tax on homes that are not occupied for at least six months in a year.
However, the program has faced numerous challenges and criticisms since its inception, including delays in implementation and concerns over its effectiveness.
Bailão acknowledged these issues and vowed to fix the program, stating that the city is committed to addressing the problem of vacant homes in Toronto.
“We recognize that there have been challenges with the vacant home tax program and we are committed to fixing them,” she said. “We want to ensure that the program is fair and effective in addressing the issue of vacant properties in our city.”
The deputy mayor also emphasized the importance of finding a suitable replacement for the individual who was responsible for the program’s rollout.
“We are actively searching for a qualified and experienced individual to take on this role and ensure that the vacant home tax program is implemented successfully,” Bailão said.
The city has not provided any further details on the departure of the individual in question, but Bailão assured that the program will continue to move forward and that the city is dedicated to finding a solution to the issue of vacant homes.
As the city works to address the challenges surrounding the vacant home tax program, it remains to be seen how effective the program will be in tackling the issue of vacant properties in Toronto.
