The Association of Municipalities of Ontario wants local residents to ask some tough questions of the candidates running in the upcoming provincial election.
The lobby group’s President Lynn Dollin says right now, municipalities are facing a $4.9 billion infrastructure deficit, and the main political parties aren’t giving them assurances they will address the shortfall.
Dollin says they’ve looked at plenty of options, and their research indicates a one-per cent increse in the provincial sales tax could help bridge the funding gap.
She explains all three parties have rejected that plan, but haven’t offered an alternative.
“There’d still be some tension to find efficiencies, but it would give us some relief,” Dollin argues. “If that’s an idea that they’re not willing to look at, give us another idea that’s going to give us about $2.5 billion a year.”
The AMO president says municipal budgets are also under stress due to funding items that should be the province’s responsibility, like physician recruitment. (File Photo)
