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Farm Finance Branch
Introduction to the Property Tax and
Farm Finance Unit

Author: Beth Turon- Administrative Support/ OMAFRA
Creation Date: 07 January 2006
Last Reviewed: 12 May 2009

The Property Tax and Farm Finance Unit is responsible for providing policy development and program delivery services for a number of programs that provide support to Ontario farmers. Specifically, the unit is responsible for property assessment and tax rate policy issues as well as administration of the Farm Property Class tax rate eligibility program. Under provincial property tax reform, farm properties satisfying the eligibility requirements are identified in the Farm Property Class and taxed at 25% of the municipal residential tax rate. The unit is also responsible for a number of financial assistance and financial protection programs.

Director: Clarence Haverson (519) 826-3244

Manager: Barry Sinclair (519) 826-4016

Administrative Support: Beth Turon (519) 826-3494

Policy Advisors
Staff Responsibilities
Shain Russell-Cameron
826-4044
  • Wildlife Damage / Wildlife Compensation (existing programs)
  • Grain Financial Protection Programs
  • Beef Cattle Financial Protection
  • Farm Business Registration
  • ARDA/Community Pastures
  • Ontario Agri-Business Association
John Cumming
826-3646
  • Commodity Loan Guarantee Program - monitoring, review and reform
  • Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee Program (Feeder Finance Co-ops)
  • Rural Loan Pool Guarantee Program (Farm Plus)
  • Advance Payments Program - Federal Liaison
  • Farm Income/Debt Monitoring - Federal Liaiso
  • Beginning Farmer Program
  • Farm Property Taxation and Assessment
  • Single Sales Tax (HST/RST/GST)

 

Coordinator, Program Delivery
Staff Responsibilities


Liz Brydges
826-3465
  • Coordination of delivery of Farm Property Class Tax Program and other Financial Assistance and Financial Protection Programs

 

Client Service And Audit Reps.
Staff Responsibilities
Robin Chandra
826-3508
  • Reports for the Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal (AFRAAT) for Farm Property Class tax rate appeals
  • Income exemption requests and audit of applications for the Farm Property Class tax rate
  • Applications for compensation/reimbursement for Wildlife Damage (Coyote/Wolf/Bear) and Rabies Indemnification
  • Appeals filed under the Livestock, Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act (LPHBPA)
  • Payment of claims to ministry appointed valuers investigating Wildlife Damage and Appeals filed under the LPHBPA
  • Commodity Loan Guarantee Program, Operating Loan Guarantee Program and Professional Services Assistance Program
  • Telephone coverage back-up
Linette Hibbs
826-3480
  • Livestock, Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act claims
  • Income exemption requests and audit of applications for the Farm Property Class tax rate
  • Request for Reconsideration for Farm Property Class tax rate/Minutes of Settlement
  • Translate all correspondence (non-legal) issued in English for farm program purposes
  • French telephone calls / Telephone coverage back-up
Yolande Lockhart
826-3774
  • FarmPlus/Rural Loan Pool Program
  • Farm Tax Receivables quarterly report
  • Requests for Reconsideration for Farm Property Class tax rate/Minutes of Settlement
  • Income exemption requests and audit of applications for the Farm Property Class tax rate
  • Religious Exemptions/Objections application process
  • Telephone coverage back-up

 

Client Service & Data Entry Clerks
Staff Responsibilities

Dianne Vandenberk
826-3498

Carol Wilker
826-3478


Janice Thomson
826-3462

Gwendoline Howarth
826-3496

Farm Property Class Tax Rate Administration

  • Answer all telephone calls
  • Process incoming mail and facsimiles
  • Data entry/Process Farm Property Class tax rate program applications
  • Provide information on assessment and municipal taxation inquiries and farm property class eligibility requirements

 

 

 

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-800-333-9723
E-mail: farmtax.omafra@ontario.ca