Continued collaboration needed to ensure fiscal health of cities
November 15, 2019 – Ontario’s big city mayors brought their message of municipal fiscal sustainability to Ontario’s Minister of Finance Rod Phillips today, as he joined them in Ajax for the quarterly meeting of the Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO).
The mayors had a wide-ranging discussion with Minister Phillips on topics including the impacts of the Province’s fall economic statement on municipalities; the upcoming review of property taxation and assessment; alignment of provincial and municipal government fiscal years; and the commitment to further invest in the Audit and Accountability Fund.
“I want to thank Minister Phillips for coming to our meeting and engaging with us on these key issues,” said Mayor Cam Guthrie, Chair of LUMCO. “This is in keeping with the collaborative relationship we are building together.”
In one of their first orders of business, the mayors voted to invite the municipality of Clarington to join LUMCO, as its population has now reached 100,000. This brings the membership of LUMCO to 29 cities, representing 69% of Ontario’s population.
LUMCO mayors also passed a resolution requesting that the provincial and federal governments develop comprehensive, adequately funded strategies to address the opioid overdose crisis (epidemic) that is plaguing Ontario’s cities. They also agreed to send a letter to Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney requesting the Province work with cities as it undertakes a review of gas tax funding for transit.
Other items on the agenda included a discussion of cybersecurity and updates from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
For more information:
Mayor Cam Guthrie, City of Guelph, Chair of LUMCO
519-837-5643
mayor@guelph.ca
Mayor Jeff Lehman, City of Barrie, Vice-Chair of LUMCO
705-792-7900
officeofthemayor@barrie.ca
About LUMCO
The Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) includes mayors of 29 single and lower-tier cities with a population of 100,000 or more, amounting to 69% of Ontario’s population. LUMCO advocates for issues and policies important to Ontario’s largest cities.