David Empey

The Ontario Government has recently proposed legislation which would give the City of Toronto some significant new powers. In what appears to be an attempt to convince those of us who do not live in Toronto of the efficacy of its contents, the legislation is named the Stronger City Of Toronto For A Stronger Ontario Act.

Many of the powers given the City in the Act make a great deal of sense. The ability to set bar hours, regulate environmental standards for buildings, and controls over architectural detail and design are examples. These issue are inherently local in nature, and municipalities are the most local form of government. However, it makes no sense – politically or morally – to give these powers to Toronto without giving them to all municipalities. Surely the only differences between Toronto and other towns & cities is merely one of scale, not kind.

However, giving Toronto – or any municipality – greater powers of taxation doesn’t make sense. While cities are drastically under-funded, the answer isn’t to allow them to raise money through taxation. The answer is to fund them properly through transfers from the Province. The cost of these services ought to be spread among the taxpayers of the province, and not every municipality. Does this mean that taxpayers from larger municipalities will subsidize the smaller ones? In all likelihood, yes. But that is the way it ought to be. Municipalities aren’t governments in their own right; they are creatures of the Province. Those who argue for greater powers of taxation for Toronto, or any city, seem not to understand this.