The province needs to pitch in and pay up to municipalities.
So sounds the call from the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) as the provincial election date creeps closer. AMO, through it’s Vote Like Your Quality of Life Depends on It campaign, is urging the province to tackle three key issues – homelessness, keeping municipal taxes local, and increasing housing.
AMO is encouraging voters to research candidates who care about curing these social ills. Calvin Township agrees with AMO’s stance.
Mayor Richard Gould noted, “The Municipality of Calvin faces significant challenges in providing services to our residents while managing the financial burden of downloaded provincial government programs.”
The mayor continued, “Council therefore encourages residents to research candidates’ positions on municipal funding issues.”
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AMO wants more money to stay within municipalities instead of going to programs and services it feels the province should pay for. Mayor Gould noted that AMO has been very vocal that, “Too many programs are being downloaded to municipalities.”
That includes policing and healthcare costs, and as AMO has outlined, “Across Ontario, about $5 billion in property taxes annually is used to cover shortfalls in provincial funding for social services, healthcare, and housing.” In other provinces, AMO noted, “These are solely provincial jurisdiction.”
AMO wants more money left in municipal tills, and Calvin Township seconds that motion. Many other municipalities are signing their own resolutions of support as well.
Although Mayor Gould and council endorsed AMO’s campaign, the mayor clarified that neither he or council or advocating or supporting a particular candidate or party.
Mayor Gould emphasized, “As you all know we are not allowed to endorse any party as a municipal politician. However, we encourage voters to do their research to see which candidates are going to support a reduction in the downloading of costs to municipalities.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.