The McGuinty Government’s Plan:
Will introduce a four-year assessment cycle with a four-year assessment phase-in for residential, farm, and managed forest properties. The phase-in provides homeowners greater certainty by introducing assessment increases gradually over a four-year period. For residential taxpayers with an assessment decrease, the decrease would be applied immediately. The policy does not apply to commercial or industrial taxed properties. The government did announce that consultations will be held to determine the applicability of the phase-in program for business properties.

The John Tory Solution:
Put a 5% cap on annual assessment increases for as long as the individual owns their home. That will include property transfers to a spouse. Put the rights of homeowners first. Instead of demanding that people prove why their assessment is too high, the onus should be on MPAC to justify any increases.
Fix the system or scrap it! The Ombudsman’s report recommended many steps to help fix the current assessment system. If all those serious problems cannot be repaired, then it will be time to admit that the system simply does not work and needs to be replaced.

NDP Plan:
The NDP’s Freeze Till Sale model will freeze the assessed value of your home at its purchase price for as long as you own your home.

For more information on the Party platforms please go to:
Liberal Party – www.ontarioliberal.ca
Progressive Conservative Party: www.ontariopc.com
NDP Party – www.ontariondp.com

Expiration dates on gift cards banned effective October 1
The provincial government is reminding all businesses and consumers that effective October 1, 2007 expiry dates on all gift cards have been banned.
Along with the ban, new rules have been legislated that will require retailers to disclose gift card terms and conditions and restrict applicable fees. Effective October 1, cash-equivalent gift cards are guaranteed to retain their full value no matter when the consumer redeems them and consumers will no longer be charged for the replacement of lost gift cards.
The government is reminding all businesses in Ontario that they must make every effort to accurately notify consumers about the terms affecting gifts cards, and ensure that consumers are aware that expiry dates are not applicable to gift cards purchased on or after October 1, 2007.

For more information on this program and how you can participate give Jan a call at 613.476.2421.

Don’t Miss Out!

Book your space for our County Merchants Showcase on Saturday, October 6th at the Picton Community Centre. Spaces are going quickly.

Call Jan at 613.476.2421 to book your space.

PECCTAC is looking at repeating the very popular “Beat The Taxman!” seminar.

Stephen Thompson, tax partner with Wilkinson & Company and bestselling author of 'Beat the Taxman! Easy Ways to Save Tax in your Small Business’ can show you how to save tax dollars. You will gain insight on current tax issues, small business matters and learn about new or pending legislation.
This seminar is an interactive session designed to address specific tax issues facing seminar participants – so bring your tax questions and concerns to this seminar! Steve’s goal is to help you come out a winner in the fight to save taxes in your business.

PECCTAC Members: - $15
Non-members: - $25

Book your space NOW by calling. 613.476.2421

This 10 week course is scheduled to start Thursday October 4th and will take place each Thursday thereafter until December 6th. Each lesson will be from 5 to 6:30 pm and will focus on assisting our French speaking visitors. More information to follow.
Book your space NOW by calling: 613.476.2421

The businesses nominated will be contacted and the winners will be presented at the Awards banquet on Friday, October 26th held at the Banquet Centre (Alhambra Hall) in Belleville.

Come out and join your fellow business members help celebrate the outstanding business people in Prince Edward County. For further information go to www.qbaa.ca.

eLearning is a mature, $16 Billion industry in North America. However, eLearning programs have typically only been available to large businesses and government organizations.

The Chamber eLearning Centre has created a compelling program that brings these world class business skills and technical courses to small and medium sized local businesses. These are the same courses that RBC Royal Bank, TD Bank, Consumers Energy, Irving Oil and the Province of Alberta use to train their employees.

“The Chamber eLearning Centre promises to increase the value proposition of the chamber network by giving our business members access to training at a very low cost," explains Scott McCammon, Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

"These state-of-the-art eLearning opportunities will also help our member businesses gain a competitive edge through the attraction and retention of quality staff."

The Chamber eLearning Centre will offer the lowest cost, most effective employee training available today.

Over 600 business and 1000 technical courses are available over the Internet, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In addition, the Chamber eLearning Centre offers a variety of certification programs for business owners, managers, supervisors and employees:

For more information on eLearning visit www.growthadvisors.ca
Free sample courses are available on-line.