Twenty-eight mayors across Ontario are fed up with the provincial government’s funding cuts and changes.
The Large Urban Mayor’s Caucus of Ontario is concerned about the Ford government implementing funding and governance changes to municipalities, even after these cities have approved their budgets for the year.
The mayors say the changes happened before any municipalities were consulted, which in some cases may force cities to consider tax increases or service cuts in order to absorb the costs of any downloaded services.
“We applaud the Province’s willingness to listen to communities’ concerns in some cases, for example on Bill 66 and changes to autism funding,” the statement reads. “But we question why it takes an outcry before we are heard. Municipalities are simply asking to be consulted beforehand, so that we can work alongside the Province on changes that are in the best interests of the taxpayers we represent. We support the Province’s efforts to get its budget deficit under control. But it cannot do so on the backs of local taxpayers, without consultation.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff and his counterparts across Ontario are calling on the government to postpone changes to services like public health and libraries, until at least next year to give them a chance to discuss the changes with residents.
The Large Urban Mayor’s Caucus of Ontario represents 28 communities across the province with populations over 100,000.