THUNDER BAY - Property owners and businesses outside of municipal boundaries will be given extra time to make property tax payments during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The provincial government announced on Monday that it is deferring $15 million in property taxes in parts of Northern Ontario.
“Our government is taking action to protect every person and every business across Ontario during this unprecedented time, including remote parts of Northern Ontario," said Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance in a media release issued on Monday.
"All communities are feeling the impacts of this global outbreak. That's why we're providing a measure of relief for the owners of over 63,000 residential and business properties outside municipal boundaries."
Taxpayers in unincorporated areas will have 90 days extra to pay provincial land tax instalments without incurring penalties or interest.
This deferral is part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, which also includes a 90 deferral of education property tax to school boards.
The government says this will provide municipalities with the flexibility to institute property tax deferrals of more than $1.8 billion to residents and businesses.
"Additional cash flow during these tough times can help keep food on the table for people in every corner of the province," Phillips said.
"That's why we've made $10 billion in cash flow support available through tax and other deferrals as part of Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19. The Province is doing its part and we're grateful to our partners in the other levels of government for doing theirs."