Hampton will deliver fair deal for
municipalities, families
NDP will freeze transit fares, ease property taxes, support key services
Toronto - NDP Leader Howard Hampton will reverse four years of McGuinty Liberals weakening Ontario communities by delivering a fair deal to municipalities and today's working families. The NDP plan to rebalance the provincial-municipal fiscal relationship will freeze transit fares for two years, ease pressure on rising property taxes and provide increased support for key municipal services.
"It used to be families
paid fair property taxes and got good value for their money. But it's not
that way any more because the McGuinty government is a deadbeat government
that won't pay its bills. Now, property taxes are up, support for services
is down and today's families are paying the price. It's time to end the
four years of neglect and repair the damage McGuinty has done,"
Hampton said.
"Our fair deal for municipalities and families will rebalance the fiscal relationship between the province and municipalities. It will relieve property taxpayers of the burden of paying for provincially-mandated programs. And it will mean freezing transit fares for two years, easing pressure on skyrocketing property taxes and new support for the municipal services that families count on every day," he said.
At issue is municipal downloading, and the McGuinty government's refusal to pay for its own programs. McGuinty refuses to pay for provincially-mandated services like transit, court costs and disability assistance. Ontario's municipal property taxpayers pay for those programs. Ontario is the only province where that happens. That's why Ontario families pay the highest property taxes in Canada.
Hampton says it's time for a fair deal for municipalities and families. Highlights of the NDP's plan include:
·
Two-year transit fare freeze to keep cars off the road and protect transit
riders from punishing fare hikes. As of Jan. 1, 2008, we will assume
Ontario's traditional responsibility for paying 50 per cent of public
transit operating costs. Municipalities and property taxpayers will see
$220 million a year in benefits. That includes $110 million a year for
Toronto.
·
Upload court security costs to provide needed relief for municipalities
and property taxpayers. As of Jan. 1, 2008, the provincial government will
assume the cost of providing security services in courtrooms.
Municipalities and municipal property taxpayers across the province will
see $200 million in benefits which they can choose to use for initiatives
that keep our communities safe, like hiring more police officers. Toronto
will see
$40 million a year in benefits.
·
Honour Ontario's cost-sharing and funding agreements and pay the $225
million the McGuinty government has been shortchanging municipalities.
That includes $71 million a year for Toronto starting Jan. 1, 2008.
·
Upload disability assistance and related drug benefit costs.
The Ontario Disability Support Program and the Ontario Drug Benefit
Program are provincial programs. New Democrats will remove those costs
from the property tax base by the end of 2011 and make sure the province
pays them. Municipalities and property taxpayers will see $800 million in
benefits. That includes $175 million a year for Toronto by 2011.
·
On track to upload the download by 2015. That's the most practical and
fair plan put forward ahead of the provincial election.
The NDP plan will mean $221 million in benefits for Toronto by 2008 and almost $400 million in benefits by 2011.
Hampton invited voters to compare his fair deal for municipalities and families with Dalton McGuinty's record of letting people down.
"My proposal is a real concrete plan. It will provide a fair deal for cash-strapped municipalities and hard-pressed municipal property taxpayers. It will make life better for people by helping municipalities invest in public services. It will make life more affordable for people by freezing transit fares for two years and by easing pressure on property taxes," Hampton said.
"Dalton McGuinty forgot working families the day he was elected. He promised to upload provincially mandated services and pay his bills but he hasn't and he doesn't have a plan to do it. He promised fair property taxes for hard-working families but Ontarians are paying the highest property taxes in Canada. He promised to protect public services but he's forcing communities to cut services. He promised to show leadership but he's hiding behind a task force that he timed to report back after the election. McGuinty got it wrong. New Democrats will make it right," he said.
