Western Ontario Wardens Caucus Asks Province to Review Provincial-Municipal Fiscal Framework

by Bob Montgomery

The Western Ontario Wardens Caucus is joining the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in calling on the province to commit to reviewing the provincial-municipal fiscal framework as part of the upcoming provincial budget.

WOWC Executive Director Kate Burns Gallagher says the Western Wardens represent 117 municipalities in Western Ontario and AMO represents all of the 444 municipalities in the Ontario, with the exception of Toronto, so the provincial government does tend to listen to what they have to say. Burns Gallagher says what they're asking is that the province review the way they fund municipalities. “The funding mechanism between the province and the municipalities hasn't been looked at since 2008 and that has left the municipalities’ funding what is essentially provincial programs to the tune of four billion dollars on the backs of property tax dollars.”

AMO has submitted their request to the province as part of their pre-budget consultation, and the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus has sent a letter to the Premier as well, asking that they look at all of the things that have been left up to the municipalities over the years. “We're looking at municipalities that are having double digit tax increases this year because we're looking at having to fund health care, we're having to fund mental health and addiction, homelessness, child care, all of these issues that are typically covered by the provincial funding framework that are now downloaded to municipalities,” said Burns Gallagher.

More information about the Western Ontario Wardens Caucus's position can be found on their website by clicking here.