PCs back away from property assessment pledge

The Progressive Conservative government is backing away from its campaign promise to permanently freeze property assessments for seniors.

Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch introduced legislative amendments on Wednesday that will cap property assessment increases at three per cent for 2011 and 2012.

However, the Tories did not put forward a law to permanently freeze property assessments for seniors, which was also in their election campaign platform.

Instead, Fitch introduced a bill that only sets up a process to look at the freeze on assessments for seniors.

The Tories have repeatedly called their election platform their "contract" with New Brunswick citizens.

"You know as any contract, there's always due diligence," Fitch told reporters.

"We want to make sure we do the due diligence and make sure it's right, because it is a permanent freeze we're proposing here."

Municipalities have said the permanent freeze would deprive them of much-needed revenue.

Fitch said new information means the provincial government will consult before deciding whether to freeze seniors' assessments as promised or just give them tax "relief."

"Is the freeze guaranteed? Certainly, the relief that we want to accomplish for the seniors, that's the guarantee that I can give today," Fitch said.

3-year assessment freeze

The cap introduced Wednesday will apply to owner-occupied residences and parts of buildings that are residential but share space with apartments or businesses.

It will not apply to cottages, apartment buildings, commercial properties or properties that have undergone major renovations.

The New Brunswick government says as many as 232,000 homeowners could be eligible if their property assessments grow by more than three per cent.

The Progressive Conservatives promised the property assessment reforms during the fall election campaign.