Bold steps and restructuring are both needed in the way the provincial government operates.
That’s the feeling of Dryden Mayor Greg Wilson as Ontario begins to draft its Fall Budget.
Wilson has sent a letter to Minister of Finance Rod Phillips on what he wants to see in the upcoming provincial budget.
Wilson is calling on the government to cancel and reverse the downloading of costs for social services. (social assistance, social housing, long-term care, childcare, ambulance services and public health)
He notes “This would immediately enable municipalities to start addressing their growing infrastructure deficits without an over reliance on the Provincial government for application-based infrastructure grants.
Wilson stresses “Ontario is the only province in Canada where property taxpayers are required to fund Provincial income redistribution programs. All other jurisdictions use income taxes and/or consumption taxes to fund these programs/services.
He states if the province can’t complete the uploading in the short term, then the government should freeze municipal levies from social services and public health units at 2020 levels.
Wilson adds future increases should be uploaded and borne by the province going forward.
Wilson says the upcoming budget should also provide policing grants to municipalities in the Northwest as policing costs are well above the provincial average, both for OPP and municipal forces.
He says high policing costs in the region can be directly attributed to the lack of mental health and addiction healthcare services as well as affordable/supportive housing services.
Another request is “Halt the annual reduction in the OMPF grant to municipalities and restore grant levels to 2013 levels for small and rural northern communities.”
It’s anticipated the next fiscal update will come down from the province no later than November 15.
