The leader of the Ontario NDP is calling for more money for municipalities.
Andrea Horwath says the government should raise transfer payments to communities to $550-million a year with regular, ongoing increases.
She is also calling for a hike in the municipal share of gas taxes and stable predictable funding for infrastructure upgrades.
Meantime, Horwath is seeking protection for municipalities from provincial meddling in their elections.
She is promoting her proposed Municipal Representation and Restructuring Protection Act.
Horwath stresses the Premier should be working with communities, not trying to override their wishes.
“Growing or shrinking or re-drawing boundaries can only come from the community and community leadership, the people who know best.”
She adds “local governments should absolutely be free to evolve and better serve their communities.”
Premier Doug Ford confirmed that the countdown to devastating cuts is on. He’s slashing things like public health, things that keep families safe, and throwing the problems his cuts will create at the feet of municipal councils. #AMOConf19 #onpoli https://t.co/ysf0JA3m8Z
— Andrea Horwath (@AndreaHorwath) August 19, 2019
