The Town of South Bruce Peninsula wants the provincial government to work with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario on a social and economic prosperity review.
They’ve joined a number of municipalities raising the issue of municipal finances in Ontario including the City of Owen Sound.
A motion put forward by South Bruce Peninsula Deputy Mayor Caleb Hull at Tuesday’s council meeting says “current provincial-municipal fiscal arrangements are undermining Ontario’s economic prosperity and quality of life.”
It notes nearly a third of municipal spending in Ontario is for services in areas of provincial responsibility, and expenditures are outpacing provincial contributions by nearly $4 billion a year.
Hull’s motion says municipal revenues, such as property taxes, “do not grow with the economy or inflation” and adds population and housing growth will require significant investments in municipal infrastructure.
It says, “municipalities are being asked to take on complex health and social challenges like delivering long term care services, homelessness and affordable housing options, addressing the mental health and addictions crises, and other social services.”
The motion says, “The Province can, and should, invest more in the prosperity of communities.”
Council supported the motion.
The call for the study comes after a presentation given at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in January.
It pointed out, municipalities put $64 billion each year into services and infrastructure. Almost one third of annual expenditures pay for services that are provincial responsibilities everywhere else in Canada.
Last week, a delegation from #OwenSound attended the 2024 Rural Ontario Municipality Association (ROMA) annual conference to address key issues affecting our region, including sustainable funding. To find out more, visit https://t.co/6ecoQtfPq7. pic.twitter.com/bnDkD90AsD
— City of Owen Sound (@CityOwenSound) January 30, 2024
