Excerpt from Report of the Ontario Assessment Commission, 1902 Since making our report in January last, we have proceeded with the investigation of the matters referred to us, namely, to inquire into and report upon: (1.) The operation of the laws now in force relating to the assessment of different classes of property, for the purpose of municipal taxation, in the Province of Ontario, and the collection of taxes, and the sale of lands for arrears thereof, and the duties of the municipal officers in relation thereto; (2.) The assessment of lands and the improvements thereon, respectively; (3.) The most equitable method of assessing stocks and other property of mercantile firms and corporations; (4.) The most equitable mode of assessing companies operating public franchises under Statutes in force in the Province of Ontario, or under agreements with municipal corporations, such as companies for the supplying of water, light, heat and power to municipalities and the inhabitants thereof, telegraph and telephone companies and companies operating railways, street railways and electric railways; (5.) Improvements in the assessment laws of Ontario suggested by legislation of recent years in other countries: 6.) The statutory exemptions from taxation now in force, and as to what, if any, changes should be made therein: (7.) The re-arrangement, revision, amendment and consolidation of the provisions of The Assessment Act, and the amendments thereto; And to prepare such amendments as might appear to be advisable; and to inquire, and hear, and consider, and report upon any other matters connected with the assessment and taxation of property which might be brought to our attention, or which might appear to us to be proper subjects for consideration. Present Law. For the consideration of these various questions it will be convenient to set out shortly, in the first place, the main features of the present law in Ontario. Speaking broadly, it may be said that the system of taxation in force in Ontario is a form of what is generally known as the General Property Tax. By the letter of the law, all property in the Province, both real and personal, as defined by the Act, is liable to taxation, subject to certain exemptions set forth in Section 7 of the Assessment Act. The definition of "Real Property" makes it include buildings or other things erected upon or affixed to the land, and all machinery so fixed to any buildings as to form in law part of the realty, also all trees or underwood growing on the land; land covered by water and mines and minerals, quarries and fossils not belonging to the Crown. "Personal Property" includes income accruing in the Province, and all property in the Province not included in the definition of real property. Exemptions. The exemptions from taxation include those provided for in nearly all civilized countries, such as Crown or public property, and property devoted to uses which are of general benefit to the community, such as property for religious, charitable or educational purposes. There are other classes of exemptions, some, such as "household effects, books and wearing apparel," were probably made exempt to prevent undue inquiry into private affairs, and some in order to specially encourage particular industries or pursuits, e.g., grain in transitu, horses, cattle, etc., owned and held in carrying on the general business of farming and grazing. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com