Owen Sound Supports AMO's Key Community Priorities in Advance of Provincial Election

With an upcoming provincial election in 2025, Owen Sound joins municipal governments across Ontario in calling for provincial action and partnership to help them deliver a high quality of life to all Ontarians.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) has launched a non-partisan awareness campaign to ensure that voters and provincial parties alike understand three key areas where provincial partnership and action can improve Ontario’s quality of life:

- tackling the homelessness crisis,

- curbing reliance on municipal property taxes to fund provincial responsibilities, and,

- investing in local infrastructure to build housing.

Homelessness has been growing rapidly across all of Ontario, including in Owen Sound. This is taking a toll on people, community well-being and safety. AMO, which advocates for Ontario’s local governments, is calling for significant provincial investments to address the root causes of the crisis. Investments needed in social and supportive housing, mental health and addictions support, and income support are far less than the incalculable human and financial costs of homelessness.

Across Ontario, about $5 billion in property taxes annually is used to cover shortfalls in provincial funding for social services, healthcare and housing. In other Canadian provinces, these are solely provincial jurisdiction. Shouldering these costs can increase property taxes and make it harder to deliver core municipal services that make communities safer, more livable, and more affordable.

Similarly, property taxpayers cannot bear the immense costs of expanding municipal infrastructure needed to support growth. The Ontario Government’s goal to build 1.5 million homes by 2031 means more pipes, roads and services. Increasing property taxes to fund the expansion only makes housing more costly.

“Municipalities are the foundation of Ontario’s economic prosperity and quality of life,” said AMO President Robin Jones. “But the funding arrangements that municipal governments rely on to deliver services and infrastructure are broken. Ontarians should demand that all provincial parties commit to the necessary actions to keep our communities safe, affordable, and prosperous.”

With strong provincial-municipal partnerships, Ontario can build opportunity and deliver the quality of life its residents deserve. Take action for your community and urge your provincial representatives and candidates to take action. Then, vote like your quality of life depends on it.

Learn more at VoteONqualityoflife.ca.

For more information, please contact Tim Simmonds, City Manager at 519-376-4440 ext. 1210 or email tsimmonds@owensound.ca

Quotes:

"Owen Sound Council continues to work hard at the local level and to address critical issues that require provincial partnerships. When meeting with Provincial Ministries, we consistently bring forward pressing concerns like funding structures and provincial assistance on social services. We remain committed to advocating for meaningful action that will enhance the quality of life for all Owen Sound residents."

-     Mayor Ian Boddy

Quick Facts:

• More than 80,000 Ontarians were homeless last year, with nearly 1,400 encampments in parks and public spaces
• $5 billion in property taxes is spent on responsibilities that fall under provincial jurisdiction in other provinces, such as social services, health care, and housing support.

-30-