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During the years 1970 and 1971 the appellant owned certain lands in the Town of Burlington on which it was building a condominium project. By April 30, 1971, this project had reached the point where the officials of the respondent municipality were able to increase the assessment with respect to this development because it had become “reasonably fit for occupancy”, within the meaning of that term in s. 43(1)(a) of The Assessment Act, R.S.O. 1970, c. 32, as it stood in April 1971. On July 23, 1971, The Assessment Act was amended retroactively to January 1, 1971, so as delete the words “or reasonably fit for occupancy”, following the words “becomes occupied”, in s. 43(1)(d). The premises in question were in 1971 unoccupied. The appellant disclaimed liability for tax and in November 1971 appealed to the Assessment Review Court, which dismissed the appeal. The appellant then appealed to the county court and the Ontario Municipal Board, both of which also dismissed the appeal. Thereafter, the appellant appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal, which, on May 3, 1974, dismissed the appeal.
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