News

If you have any information of interest to the profession, please let us know by sending us an e-mail to: contactus@cdglaw.net.

LSUC May Re-Open Paralegal Grandfathering

The LSUC's Paralegal Standing Committee has recommended that the grandfathering window be re-opened for exempt persons. 

The proposed new grandfathering provision will be a 'more formal' process involving an online education component in addition to the exam, references, 3 year's experience, insurance and the requirement that candidates be 'of good character'.

- February 26, 2010

ARB 2009/2010 Deeming Procedures

The ARB released its 2009 / 2010 deeming rules on February 5, 2010.

The deaming date is, of course, March 31, 2010.

Any appeals scheduled and heard prior to February 26, 2010 will not be deemed for 2010 unless written reasons are to be issued.

Decisions for any 2009 appeals scheduled and heard between February 26 and March 31, 2010 will apply to the deemed 2010 appeal.

Hearings from March 31 to June 30, 2010 will include the 2010 deemed appeal, although the usual 60 days notice may not be given for the 2010 appeal.

- February 23, 2010

Phase-In Adjustments

There is confusion in the industry concerning phase-in adjustments.

If the 2005 or 2008 current value for a property changes and there has been no physical change to the property, the phase-in of the 2008 current value will change (assuming the 2008 value is higher than the 2005 value).

Section 19.1(5) requires MPAC to give taxpayers notice of any change to their phase-ins.  There is no appeal from this notice.

For 2009 appeals, the minutes should include the adjusted phase-in, so no s.19.1(5) notice will be required.

The notices for the 2009 tax year are being mailed in January 2010.  The notices for the 2010 tax year be mailed commencing in February 2010.

- January 31, 2010

LSUC Paralegal Exemptions Review Completed

The LSUC's Paralegal Standing Committee has tabled the results of its review of the paralegal licensing exemptions.  The recommendations of interest to the assessment community are:

• friends exemption be limited to two or three occasions per year
• clarify that professional planners can appear at local committees of adjustment
• the following exemptions be given further consideration: Single Employer / In-house exemption, Appraisal Institute members
• an exemption be granted for paralegal college students on college-approved work placements

 The full report is available at www.lsuc.on.ca/media/conjan10_PSCreport.pdf

- January 29, 2010

CDG Updates its Website

We have made a few changes to our website.

We have removed the pre-hearing schedule.  Given the ARB's revised rules and practice changes, we felt that the schedule was no longer useful.

We have replaced the pre-hearing schedule with a listing of the lawyers' responsibilities by property code.  The listings, one for 2008 and prior and one for 2009 and subsequent appeals, are found on the page called "Lawyers P/Cs".  The listing will also give you the name of the Case Management Analyst from MPAC who works with the lawyer.

We have removed the Forms, which we felt had become outdated, and have replaced them with Case Management Plans, Certificates of Readiness, and Certificates of Objection.

- November 20, 2009