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QUEEN’S PARK – Today the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution calling for a quicker review of the fiscal relationship between the province and the municipalities, despite Liberal opposition. The resolution was introduced by Ernie Hardeman M.P.P. for Oxford and Progressive Conservative critic for Municipal Affairs. “John Tory and I have been calling on the government to give municipalities the resources to deal with increasing costs, instead the Liberals have continued to heap more expenses onto municipalities,” said Ernie Hardeman. “Municipalities have been forced to raise property taxes to try and make ends meet.” The last study of municipal services was completed almost ten years ago. Since that time costs have increased substantially. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario now estimates that the gap between municipal transfers and the cost of social programs is over $3 Billion. This amount is expected to increase substantially once the government passes the Clean Water Act. On August 14, 2006 the McGuinty government committed to study the problem with a report due in spring 2008, in order to dodge the issue until four months after the provincial election. “Municipalities, taxpayers and all three parties in this legislature know what the problem is – local service costs have increased and provincial transfers haven’t kept pace,” said Hardeman. “Now is not the time for another long drawn out study. Now is the time to take action to protect municipalities and ratepayers.” Mr. Hardeman’s Private Members’ resolution called on the government to complete the Municipal-Provincial Fiscal and Service review expediently and take action to balance the delivery of services with the ability to pay. In a recorded vote the resolution was supported by the Progressive Conservative and New Democratic parties and opposed by the Liberal party. “By delaying the review the Liberals once again proven that they will say anything to get elected but won’t take real action to help Ontario’s communities,” said Hardeman “It is clear from today’s vote that the members of the Ontario Legislature want this resolved before the next election.” - 30 - RESOLUTION Introduced by Ernie Hardeman, M.P.P. for Oxford That, in the opinion of this house, the proposed Provincial-Municipal
Fiscal and Service Delivery Review, which will not be completed until
February 2008, after the next provincial election, is needlessly drawn
out and that a full review to balance the delivery of service with
the ability to pay should be completed much more expediently, in order
to avoid hitting Ontario taxpayers with unsustainable property tax
hikes or significant reductions in service.
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