If we had our residence In the local town. Our taxes would be at least three times more. Even up to six times more is possible. Plus a water meter and sewage connection charge yearly. If they provided that service as well. There was a time when the town tried to expand their boundries just past us. At that time I felt if they did manage it. We would sell.

There is at least one good thing in this locality. Your assessment for tax purposes stays the same until you sell the property. On a personal dwelling plus our cottage. They still get periodically re assessed and that new amount is on the tax bill. Yet once again we are taxed only on the original assessment at time of build or acquiring a resell.

If they change this and they could. Our property taxes would increase substantially. This real break does not apply to our other properties. You could easily rent a provincially owned apartment in town much cheaper than the property tax and maintenance costs on the average dwelling in town. These apartments are for people with just basic pensions. Not sure but cost a quarter or a third of their pensions a month including all of the utilities etc. They are in general very well kept up and modern units as well.

What did get my attention. Was the signifigant amount of older people today still dealing with debt issues after retirement. Like a hefty mortgage payment. When their financial means have been reduced.

I have had people even ask me what can they do. As they cannot afford to retire. Not much you can really say. Door person at Walmart would be offensive. Yet it could become their reality.

Another modern situation. People that have really high incomes and losing their jobs. Having no provision or cushion at all for the event. Beyond a certain age they cannot find equal paying employment in all too many cases.