The B.C. Assessment Authority’s 2016-2018 service plan showed up while searching the web. It had been assumed the B.C. Assessment Authority was administered by the Ministry of Finance. Curiously, the authority is included in Minister Peter Fassbender’s Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
On Jan. 21, 2016 Minister Fassbender sent a letter to Ms. Rogers, chair of the Assessment Authority. “This mandate letter confirms your organization’s mandate, provides government’s annual strategic direction and sets key performance expectations for the 2016/2017 fiscal year.”
Subsequently, the board of directors prepared and published its 2016-2018 service plan. Some of the statements in the plan are of concern, several of which have been paraphrased and included here. The plan is consistent with government’s strategic and fiscal plan. The plan provides optimum support for government’s goal of a strong economy. The plan will provide innovation for value creating products and services. The targets in this plan are based on forecast conditions.
It is not believed the legislative MLAs who drafted and approved both the B.C. Assessment Authority and the B.C. Assessment Act in 1974 had these sort of things in mind. These acts were established to rectify past gross irregularities in property assessment procedures. This Liberal government must consider the intentions of the 1974 Legislative Assembly when residential properties are assessed for tax purposes. The 2016-2018 service plan violates the original intent of the 1974 acts.
David A. Ward
West Saanich
