Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow vows to fix vacant home tax program [Video]

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says at least one staff member involved in the “fatally flawed” plan to implement a vacant home tax is no longer on the job.

Speaking with reporters ahead of a city council meeting Wednesday, Chow said “the program was a complete mess, the way it was rolled out” and said she is working to fix it alongside senior staff and Budget Chief Shelley Carroll.

“The person that designed the program is no longer with the city,” Chow said when asked if there were any consequences for the disastrous rollout.

Thousands of people who live in their homes were shocked to receive a bill for thousands of dollars this year, prompting long lineups of confused and distraught residents at city hall. 

Chow said 110,000 homeowners who received a bill and appealed have already been sent a letter saying that the charges have been reversed. She said another …