Nova Scotia property tax bill moves through public hearing process without changes

Forty-six presentations were made before the committee over two days of hearings that began last week

CITYnews halifax \ Canadian Press

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HALIFAX — Two new taxes aimed at non-resident property owners in Nova Scotia have moved through the legislature’s public hearing process without amendments.

The all-party law amendments committee today forwarded legislation authorizing the taxes to the legislature for further consideration and a third and final reading.

Forty-six presentations were made before the committee over two days of hearings that began last week.

A majority of the presenters called on the Progressive Conservative government to reconsider the taxes, calling them unfair and discriminatory against people who live outside the province.

One new tax included in the recent budget forces non-residents who buy property and do not move to the province within six months of the closing date to pay a transfer tax of five per cent of the property’s value.

A second new tax requires non-resident owners to pay an annual fee of $2 per $100 of assessed value of their residential properties.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2022.

The Canadian Press