WHEREAS the Region of Waterloo’s population will grow to 1 million by 2050;
and WHEREAS property taxation and existing outdated revenue tools are inadequate to fund both the social supports and critical infrastructure needed to accommodate that growth;
and WHEREAS the residents and businesses in the Region of Waterloo now contribute $150 million in property taxes annually to fund services that should be financed from provincial and federal revenues;
and WHEREAS Canadian municipalities own and manage over 60% of all public infrastructure in the country;
and WHEREAS the expectations of municipal governments are misaligned with municipalities’ ability to generate revenue to pay for services;
and WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has struck a steering committee to assist the City of Toronto with a new, yet to be determined municipal fiscal framework;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
- The Region of Waterloo formally requests that the Province of Ontario commit to a new municipal fiscal funding framework for the Region of Waterloo in order to maintain sustainable service delivery and sound infrastructure within Waterloo Region;
- The Region of Waterloo requests that the Province of Ontario and Government of Canada undertake an open and transparent review of the current municipal fiscal framework in order to ensure the long term sustainability of municipalities and work in collaboration with municipalities to develop a revenue model that supports future growth; and
- A copy of this motion and supporting letter be circulated to all Ontario municipalities requesting them to also pass a similar motion, all Waterloo Region Members of Parliament and Members of Provincial Parliament, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
- That this be circulated to the Prime Minister, Federal Minister of Finance, the Premier of Ontario, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ontario Minister of Finance requesting a committee or task force to be formed address this issue.