Why do non-residents pay much less tax in Cape Breton?

Gerard Naddaf Follow Me

Posted this 2024-12-02 4:24 PM AST

Non-residential taxes examined: Two Cape Breton areas -- Port Hood Island and Beinn Bhreagh -- tell the tale To show that Nova Scotia is in desperate need of non-residential property tax reform, I’ve dug up two different case studies from credible sources including viewpoint.ca that clearly reveal that the cards remain largely stacked in favour of non-residents. My goal is to draw the attention of fellow Nova Scotians to the absurd and somewhat shameful reality that we, the taxpayers, are often subsidizing non-residents, some of whom are quite wealthy and, of course, contribute zero to our province’s income tax coffers. Further, they often pay a pittance of the property taxes they should be paying and, in many cases, less than what residents pay. To add salt to the wound, some non-residents even obstruct locals from crossing land and accessing shoreline they have used for hundreds of years. My focus is on Port Hood Island (Inverness County) and Beinn Bhreagh (Victoria County) because I’m familiar with these areas, though I’m sure that close analysis would probably lead to similar conclusions in other areas of Nova Scotia. Link to Cape Breton Post article below: https://saltwire.pressreader.com/article/281522231642484

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Michael Thistle Follow Me 2024-12-03 9:39 AM AST Reply 0 0 The truth be known our Come from away neighbours are paying more than their fair share of property taxes. If a family resides in Cape Breton for less than 6 months they are using less public services and therefore should be paying less property tax. Tourism is a very important part of our local economy and supports business like grocery stores restaurants bars gas stations etc. in our rural communities . I also believe we should be looking at other ways of attracting tourism to our beautiful island that will help our local economy grow and become less dependent on fair handouts from our provincial government. We should look federally for a break on the cost of federal park passes on Cape Breton Island,this alone would boost our tourism industry in the coming years. Gerard Naddaf My Post Follow Me 2024-12-03 2:50 PM AST Reply 0 0 Respectfully, it seems you didn’t read my article attentively or misunderstood it. This isn’t about tourists, but about non-resident property owners who would comprise a small percentage of tourists if indeed “tourist” is an appropriate term to characterize non-resident property owners. I’m not convinced that non-residents spend more than the average Nova Scotian in grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and gas stations, including in rural areas. Many hibernate in their cottages and spend very little time travelling as tourists. Some, of course, spend a great deal. South shore, for example. Most public services are covered not with property tax, but with other taxes, including income tax. Some argue that Inverness has the best hospital on the island. This is probably the case because of Cabot Links. The period non-residents reside here is prime time. Where else would they find such a deal in paradise! Meanwhile, the examples I provide focus on the degree to which some non-residents are paying less than residents when it comes to property tax. I don’t what to claim that this is always the case. I know non-residents who have claimed they are surprised at how low the property taxes are. I also know non-residents who remain here far longer than six months but pay their income tax in other provinces or countries when they should be paying it here. If selling all the land along the coast to non-residents for a song, and then taxing it at ridiculously low rates is your notion of growing the local economy then we obviously have little in common. I know many non-residents who can’t believe how inexpensive ocean front property is and have “invested” accordingly. Meanwhile, some of this land is divided and sold on the market for considerable profit which is the taxed in a lower jurisdiction. Surveyors are very busy with non-residents and investors. Gerard Naddaf My Post Follow Me 2024-12-03 2:53 PM AST Reply 0 0 Just to finish my previous comment I have no doubt that Cabot Links, to site but this example, generates a lot of tourist dollars, even if they are a corporation that pays their corporate taxes elsewhere. Speaking of Cabot Links, the Nova Scotia government gave them a $25 million low interest loan. We the taxpayers of Nova Scotia are paying for it. Also, how many of the low wage workers there are subsidized foreign students? Such is the case in most tourist areas of Cape Breton. Sometimes locals just don’t want to work. Just look at who’s working in the supermarkets despite the relative high unemployment rate. As an aside, it is sometimes the case that the unemployment rate is lower in the post summer/tourist period as it is now. A Discovery Pass for unlimited admission for 12 months at EVERY federal park in Canada for a family or group of up to 7 people in one vehicle is $151.25 (taxes included). If a group couldn’t afford this, it’s unlikely they be spending much on Cape Breton Island to boost the economy! Otherwise, I don’t disagree that Federal Parks should be free.
Bill Fiander Follow Me 2024-12-03 1:49 PM AST Reply 1 0 you mention sources. The sources should be included so others can access how you came to the conclusion stated. Gerard Naddaf My Post Follow Me 2024-12-03 3:10 PM AST Reply 1 0 I thought I was quite explicit, but good to reiterate: “For this article, I’ve drawn from credible sources including viewpoint.ca ,which has property identifications, assessed values, Capped Assessment Program values and tax information on all properties in Nova Scotia for ten-plus years. Among other things, viewpoint.ca has all the information on when and at what price a property was bought and sold for, size of property and satellite images. The site, which is unique to our province, is the brainchild of a Nova Scotian who had concerns like my own. In many respects, it is democracy at its best.” In sum, I accessed EVERY property on Port Hood Island and in Beinn Bhreagh using the data from viewpoint.ca. It helps that I also know these areas well. I suspect you’re not familiar with viewpoint.ca. But you can also access for a fee the ownership of the property.

Depth

Michael Thistle Follow Me 2024-12-03 9:39 AM AST

Reply 0 0

The truth be known our Come from away neighbours are paying more than their fair share of property taxes. If a family resides in Cape Breton for less than 6 months they are using less public services and therefore should be paying less property tax. Tourism is a very important part of our local economy and supports business like grocery stores restaurants bars gas stations etc. in our rural communities . I also believe we should be looking at other ways of attracting tourism to our beautiful island that will help our local economy grow and become less dependent on fair handouts from our provincial government. We should look federally for a break on the cost of federal park passes on Cape Breton Island,this alone would boost our tourism industry in the coming years.

Gerard Naddaf My Post Follow Me 2024-12-03 2:50 PM AST

Reply 0 0

Respectfully, it seems you didn’t read my article attentively or misunderstood it. This isn’t about tourists, but about non-resident property owners who would comprise a small percentage of tourists if indeed “tourist” is an appropriate term to characterize non-resident property owners. I’m not convinced that non-residents spend more than the average Nova Scotian in grocery stores, restaurants, bars, and gas stations, including in rural areas. Many hibernate in their cottages and spend very little time travelling as tourists. Some, of course, spend a great deal. South shore, for example. Most public services are covered not with property tax, but with other taxes, including income tax. Some argue that Inverness has the best hospital on the island. This is probably the case because of Cabot Links. The period non-residents reside here is prime time. Where else would they find such a deal in paradise! Meanwhile, the examples I provide focus on the degree to which some non-residents are paying less than residents when it comes to property tax. I don’t what to claim that this is always the case. I know non-residents who have claimed they are surprised at how low the property taxes are. I also know non-residents who remain here far longer than six months but pay their income tax in other provinces or countries when they should be paying it here. If selling all the land along the coast to non-residents for a song, and then taxing it at ridiculously low rates is your notion of growing the local economy then we obviously have little in common. I know many non-residents who can’t believe how inexpensive ocean front property is and have “invested” accordingly. Meanwhile, some of this land is divided and sold on the market for considerable profit which is the taxed in a lower jurisdiction. Surveyors are very busy with non-residents and investors.

Gerard Naddaf My Post Follow Me 2024-12-03 2:53 PM AST

Reply 0 0

Just to finish my previous comment I have no doubt that Cabot Links, to site but this example, generates a lot of tourist dollars, even if they are a corporation that pays their corporate taxes elsewhere. Speaking of Cabot Links, the Nova Scotia government gave them a $25 million low interest loan. We the taxpayers of Nova Scotia are paying for it. Also, how many of the low wage workers there are subsidized foreign students? Such is the case in most tourist areas of Cape Breton. Sometimes locals just don’t want to work. Just look at who’s working in the supermarkets despite the relative high unemployment rate. As an aside, it is sometimes the case that the unemployment rate is lower in the post summer/tourist period as it is now. A Discovery Pass for unlimited admission for 12 months at EVERY federal park in Canada for a family or group of up to 7 people in one vehicle is $151.25 (taxes included). If a group couldn’t afford this, it’s unlikely they be spending much on Cape Breton Island to boost the economy! Otherwise, I don’t disagree that Federal Parks should be free.

Bill Fiander Follow Me 2024-12-03 1:49 PM AST

Reply 1 0

you mention sources. The sources should be included so others can access how you came to the conclusion stated.

Gerard Naddaf My Post Follow Me 2024-12-03 3:10 PM AST

Reply 1 0

I thought I was quite explicit, but good to reiterate: “For this article, I’ve drawn from credible sources including viewpoint.ca ,which has property identifications, assessed values, Capped Assessment Program values and tax information on all properties in Nova Scotia for ten-plus years. Among other things, viewpoint.ca has all the information on when and at what price a property was bought and sold for, size of property and satellite images. The site, which is unique to our province, is the brainchild of a Nova Scotian who had concerns like my own. In many respects, it is democracy at its best.” In sum, I accessed EVERY property on Port Hood Island and in Beinn Bhreagh using the data from viewpoint.ca. It helps that I also know these areas well. I suspect you’re not familiar with viewpoint.ca. But you can also access for a fee the ownership of the property.

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Why do non-residents pay much less tax in Cape Breton?

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