Whereas municipalities face growing infrastructure needs, including roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and other critical services, which are essential to community well-being and economic development; and
Whereas the current sources of municipal revenue, including property taxes and user fees, are insufficient to meet these increasing demands for infrastructure investment; and
Whereas the Province of Ontario currently collects the Land Transfer Tax (LTT) on property transactions in municipalities across the province, generating significant revenue that is not directly shared with municipalities; and
Whereas the Federal Government collects the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on property transactions, a portion of which could be directed to municipalities to address local infrastructure needs; and
Whereas redistributing a portion of the Provincial Land Transfer Tax and GST to municipalities would provide a predictable and sustainable source of funding for local infrastructure projects without creating a new tax burden on residents or homebuyers; and
Whereas a redistribution of a portion of the existing Land Transfer Tax and GST would allow municipalities to better plan and invest in long-term infrastructure initiatives, supporting local economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents;
Now therefore be it resolved that the Town of Orangeville Council formally requests that the Provincial Government consider redistributing a portion of the Land Transfer Tax collected on property transactions to municipalities; and
That Town of Orangeville Council calls on the Federal Government to allocate a percentage of GST collected on property sales to municipalities; and
That this redistribution of the Land Transfer Tax and GST should be structured to provide predictable and sustainable funding to municipalities, allowing for better long-term planning and investment in infrastructure projects that benefit local communities, thus ensuring that local governments receive a fair share of the revenue to address critical infrastructure needs;and
That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Premier Doug Ford, Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance for Ontario, Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for Ontario, Dufferin-Caledon MP, Kyle Seeback, Dufferin-Caledon MPP, Hon. Sylvia Jones; and
That copies of this resolution be forwarded to all municipalities in the County of Dufferin, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) for their endorsement and advocacy.
Note: Mayor Post resumed the role of Chair at 8:32 p.m.