Ontario’s Small Business Property Subclass: Considerations for Municipalities

To help address the property tax challenges created by rapid intensification in Toronto, Chris and his team at MPAC worked with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) and the City of Toronto to advocate for more equitable tax policy for small businesses.

In designated growth areas, commercial properties were seeing assessment increases that far outpaced city-wide averages. As those rising assessments were passed on to tenants, many main street businesses faced unsustainable tax burdens. In response, Chris led efforts to analyze the issue and build support for a new solution.

The result was the creation of Ontario’s Small Business Property Tax Subclass—a new policy tool announced by the Province that municipalities could adopt to mitigate tax pressures on small business tenants. Chris and his team helped author the implementation guide, working alongside municipal partners to ensure the subclass could be deployed effectively across Ontario.

Municipal Connect Redevelopment

Chris led the redevelopment of MPAC’s Municipal Connect platform—a daily-use digital tool that provides Ontario’s 444 municipalities with vital property assessment data. After reviewing stakeholder feedback, he identified the need for a complete overhaul of the platform’s interface, functionality, and data security posture.

Working with internal teams and municipal partners, Chris spearheaded a fast-tracked redesign process rooted in extensive consultation, strong technical collaboration, and a clear focus on user needs. The new platform launched within six months—delivering improved performance, enhanced data capabilities, and meaningful annual operating savings.

MPAC Municipal Engagement Strategy

To strengthen municipal relationships and improve service delivery, Chris led the development of MPAC’s first municipal engagement strategy—laying the groundwork for a more proactive, data-informed partnership with Ontario’s 444 municipalities.

The strategy provided a cohesive framework for how MPAC supports municipal partners in managing property assessments, processing new development, and leveraging data to guide planning and service delivery. As part of this work, Chris also oversaw the creation of a dedicated communications approach and the organization’s first CRM system—modernizing how MPAC tracks, analyzes, and responds to municipal needs.