Natural Heritage vs Property Rights

As of late there have been a number of calls and emails regarding "Natural Heritage" planning by municipalities and counties. People are outraged, when they find out exactly what "natural heritage" and the Ontario Heritage Act was created for. From the 1973/1974 legislative debates the Ontario Heritage Act was to "introduced tax changes which eliminated succession duties …" because "our succession duties continue to have an undesirable impact on small businesses, family farms and Canadian ownership." The points continue with:

(i) eliminate "…all duty on transfer of assets between spouses. … the accumulation of assets by a couple … is a joint effort and that it is unreasonable upon the death of one partner to impose a tax on the surviving spouse," (ii) to "relieve the burden of succession duties on bona fide family farms by permitting a disappearing amortization or gradual forgiveness of death duty on farm assets over a 25-year period, provided the farm continues to operate as a family farm. Family farms make an important contribution to the social and economic fabric of this province. Relief from death taxation will help to preserve family farms…." And (iii) "… to alleviate the burden of duty on family firms. The government considers it imperative that Canadian ownership be encouraged, particularly in family firms which have been created by Canadians.." Those are the words and intent of the Ontario Heritage Act. Now for "Natural Heritage." It is stated in the Debates: "…Such extensive foreign participation in the Ontario land market not only infringes on our natural heritage, but also contributes to higher shelter costs for the residents of this province. This type of foreign investment does not create jobs, or advance technology. It benefits only the investors. The provincial government must … restrict future land purchases to residents of Canada and Canadian-owned corporations …, or an even greater influx of foreign money will further inflate Ontario's land prices." With the attack on land/property owners, the government(s) are creating a reversal of Canadian ownership and succession. If government is going to steal from the people, people might as well sell to some foreign entity to get what they are entitled to. When one reads the Ontario Heritage Act, municipalities must purchase, lease or expropriate before they can have control over any property. It's in the Act…so everyone should be attending their council meetings and just say "NO." But then some snooty Planner will probably just say – "take us to court if you don't want your wealth stolen." They are to work for you so isn't it time for a change? Either fire the Council or fire the staff – they are to serve you, not the other way around.