Province to upload more municipal services

The Government of Ontario has announced that starting this year, municipalities will no longer be responsible for court security costs. In combination with previous uploads in social assistance programs, such as the Ontario Drug Benefit Program

 

, the Ontario Disability Support Program and the Ontario Works program, municipalities are expected to save $1.2 billion in 2012. Follow this link to see a full press release.

OREA has been a strong supporter of the Ontario government’s decision to upload more municipal expenses to the province. Since 2008, OREA has urged the government to establish a sustainable funding arrangement in order to relieve pressure on property tax payers. During the 1990s the burden of paying for many provincially mandated social and health services was shifted to Ontario’s property tax payers. As a result, Ontario some of the highest property tax rates in Canada.