Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) Discuss Election Priorities, Meet with Party Leaders and Pass Resolutions on Various Topics Including Tariffs and Police Funding

Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) Discuss Election Priorities, Meet with Party Leaders and Pass Resolutions on Various Topics Including Tariffs and Police Funding 

February 7, 2025 

Potential tariffs, affordable housing, homelessness, rising police costs and a new financial deal for cities dominated today’s meeting of the Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) caucus.

The caucus, comprised of the mayors of the largest cities in Ontario representing over 70% of Ontario residents, discussed these issues and more, which are the main priorities for advocacy during this provincial election campaign. 

OBCM will officially launch their provincial election advocacy campaign next week, focused on our three key priorities for the next provincial government which include:

• Solving the crisis of homelessness, mental health, safety and addictions 
• A new financial deal for cities 
• Housing and housing enabling infrastructure focusing on complete communities 

We also  welcomed Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP and Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario to talk about their party’s priorities for municipalities. 

The caucus also spent considerable time discussing the impact of potential tariffs on Ontario’s biggest cities and formed a working group to coordinate information among members.

A resolution was passed (see below) in support of both the federal and provincial governments ongoing negotiations with the U.S. government on potential tariffs, as well as discussion on possible delegations to meet with our U.S. municipal counterparts. 

Municipalities want to assist in any way possible, and are looking to find more ways to buy Canadian, especially when looking at large capital projects worth billions of dollars across the province. 

The mayors also passed the following resolutions (see below):

• Motion to Support AMO’s Jan. 9, 2025 Report on Homelessness 
• Motion Requesting that the Federal Government Accelerate the Delivery of the Housing Accelerator Funding 
• Motion on 2025 Funding for Municipal Police Services 
• Motion on Bad Faith Renovictions 

The caucus elected Mayor David West of Richmond Hill as their new Treasurer who will join the OBCM Executive Committee. His term will begin right away and will end in December 2026. 

“Municipalities are on the front lines of these issues, and are key partners with the provincial and federal government to find solutions. But we can’t do this alone. These issues have arisen over many years of successive governments, but our residents are expecting us to work together to protect quality of life into the future. We’re asking everyone to make your voice – and your vote – heard on these issues, and ask every candidate and party what they will do to work with municipalities to find long term solutions.”

• Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of Burlington and Chair of OBCM.

About Ontario’s Big City Mayors

Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) is an organization that includes mayors of 29 single and lower-tier cities with a population of 100,000 or more, who collectively represent nearly 70 percent of Ontario’s population. OBCM advocates for issues and policies important to Ontario’s largest cities.

 

Media Contacts

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Chair                              Michelle Baker, Executive Director

chair@obcm.ca                                                                      michelle@obcm.ca

905-335-7777                                                                         647-308-6602

Appendix – All resolutions passed at OBCM Caucus meeting 

Motion Requesting that OBCM endorse AMO’s January 9, 2025 “Municipalities Under Pressure – the Human and Financial Cost of Ontario’s Homelessness Crisis” report and that OBCM Members’ Local Councils endorse this report

Moved by Mayor Dorothy McCabe – Waterloo

Whereas the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in partnership the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA) and the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA) collaborated with HelpSeeker Technologies to research and release a comprehensive study that reveals the massive growth of homelessness in Ontario, and

Whereas OBCM is a close working partner with the Association of Ontario Municipalities, and has shared board members, and

Whereas this comprehensive report supports OBCM’s ongoing Solve The Crisis campaign and its key requests of the provincial and the federal government to address the homelessness crisis, 

Therefore be it resolved that OBCM endorse the “Municipalities Under Pressure – the Human and Financial Cost of Ontario’s Homelessness Crisis” report and work in collaboration with AMO to advance the key findings and recommendations of this report and the Solve the Crisis Campaign.

And that a copy of this motion be sent to:

• Robin Jones, President, AMO and Mayor of Westport  
• Karen Redman, Chair, MARCO and Chair of the Region of Waterloo 

Motion Requesting that the Federal Government accelerate the delivery of the Housing Accelerator Funding for qualifying Ontario Municipalities to Increase the Housing Supply

Moved by Mayor Dorothy McCabe – Waterloo

Whereas the Housing Accelerator Funding (HAF) program was established in March 2023 by the Government of Canada to provide financial support to municipalities and First Nations governments to help build more housing by eliminating barriers and ending restrictive zoning provisions in order to build much needed housing including more rental housing, affordable units and housing around public transit and on city owned lands, and

Whereas the HAF funding is allocated in four parts over 3 years and each allocation is contingent on meeting established and agreed upon targets, 

Whereas this funding has been instrumental in moving important and much needed housing initiatives forward across numerous municipalities in 2023 and 2024, and will be in 2025, 

Whereas the advancement of the 3rd and 4th funding tranches would provide the municipalities that are utilizing the HAF the confidence that they will be able to complete all of their planned housing initiatives and achieve the housing targets identified in the HAF Action Plans, and, in some municipalities, accelerate some HAF housing initiatives, and 

Whereas, the 3rd and 4th HAF funding allocations- if provided in 2025 – would be returned to the federal government at the end of the existing HAF contracts if the agreed upon housing and HAF initiatives were not fulfilled, and

Whereas, municipalities will continue to commit to providing audited statements to the Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities that outlines how HAF is being utilized and that if these funds were not spent in accordance with the funding agreement, the municipality would return the allocated funds, 

Therefore be it resolved that OBCM requests that the federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities direct staff at the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation to immediately work with municipalities which received HAF to understand the opportunities available for these municipalities to further increase the housing supply if the 3rd and 4th HAF funding allocations were accelerated and provided in 2025 instead of 2026 and 2027 and, 

Be it further resolved that OBCM calls on its federal counterpart, the Big City Mayors’ Caucus, to pass the same/similar motion as soon as possible. 

And that a copy of this motion be sent to:

• The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada 
• The Hon. Nate Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
• The Hon. Dominic Le Blanc, Minister of Finance  
• Josh Morgan, Chair, Big City Mayors’ Caucus and Mayor of London
• Robin Jones, President, AMO and Mayor of Westport  

Motion on Police Funding for Municipal Police Services 

Moved by Mayor Kevin Davis – Brantford

WHEREAS there are many important and pressing challenges relating to public safety, such as firefighting, corrections, domestic violence, animal welfare, auto theft, justice and bail reform to name a few; and

WHEREAS the provinces’ Community Safety and Policing Act is placing further financial pressures on local police services, adding new training and equipment requirements for officers; and 

WHEREAS in November 2024 the provincial government announced it would be offering $77 million to 330 municipalities serviced by the OPP to offset the OPP’s budget increase; and

WHEREAS that subsidy is not being extended to municipalities that operate local police services; and

WHEREAS communities with municipal police services have seen steady increases to their police operating budget(s), putting additional pressures on the taxpayers of our communities, with future years likely to see similar increases; and

WHEREAS the provincial government has been supportive of law enforcement including police services, with the Ministry of the Solicitor General being very approachable and open to the challenges faced by all communities as they relate to crime and increased financial strains; and

WHEREAS the federal government has created a Fentanyl Czar to combat the drugs crossing our borders.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Government of Ontario consider the following suggestions;

a) That the province increase the funding to municipal and regional police services in a manner proportional to the funding relief provided to the OPP policed communities

b) Consideration of providing local and provincial grant funds which are vital to the operation of all police services across the province

       AND that this funding includes meaningful support for municipal police services who are on the front lines of         confronting organized crime who are behind synthetic fentanyl lab

c) That a fair and equitable funding model is established for all taxpayers across the province, regardless of the community they live in or how they are policed (OPP or municipal police services)

d) Investigate the ability to fund and utilize emergency technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) for law enforcement to ensure that police services are able to investigate or deter AI based crimes in the future; and

THAT adequate funding and meaningful support be provided to police service members to address employee health and wellness, including members who are on long-term (WSIB) absences.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Ontario’s Big City Mayors endorse the recent OACP and OAPSB letter to the province dated December 7, 2024  “Re: Recent $77 Million Funding Announcement for Municipalities Policed by the Ontario  Provincial Police”; and

THAT a copy of this motion be sent to:

• The Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
• The Hon. Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
• The Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance 
• The Hon. Graham McGregor, Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform
• Deputy Chief Roger Wilkie, President – Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police 
• Patrick Weaver, Chair –  Ontario Association of Police Services Boards 
• Robin Jones, President – Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
• Karen Redman, Chair, Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO)

Motion on Bad Faith Renovictions

Moved by Mayor Berry Vrbanovic – Kitchener

WHEREAS the chronic homelessness and affordable housing crisis continues to escalate, putting unsustainable pressure on municipalities; and

WHEREAS there is a growing concern among municipalities that vulnerable residents, including seniors and persons with disabilities, are at increased risk of homelessness due to the compounding effects of both the affordability and housing crisis in Ontario; and

WHEREAS the number of N13s filed between 2017 and 2022 increased by 300%, there is growing concern about bad-faith renovictions occurring across Ontario’s big cities; and

WHEREAS the Province of Ontario is responsible for enforcing the Residential Tenancies Act; and

WHEREAS the Province of Ontario passed Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act in June 2023, which included amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 to discourage bad faith renovictions, but have yet to proclaim said amendments (Schedule 7 of the Act); and

WHEREAS without implementation of this provincial legislation and related enforcement, municipalities have been called upon by their communities to seek solutions to help tenants adversely impacted by bad-faith renovictions; and

WHEREAS municipalities across Ontario do not have the same legislative, enforcement or fiscal resources and capacity as the Province of Ontario to effectively deter bad-faith renovictions.

NOW THEREFORE be it RESOLVED that the Ontario Big City Mayors Caucus calls on the Province of Ontario to proclaim and bring into force all regulations pertaining to bad faith renovictions in Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023, including amendments 2.2 – 2.6, which call for:

• landlords to provide a professional report confirming the need for a building permit and vacant possession ahead of issuing a notice of termination of a tenancy;
• the requirement for a landlord to give a tenant requesting notice, at least 60 days notice to exercise their right of first refusal to re-occupy a unit;
• Landlords to be considered to have issued a notice of termination in bad faith, if none of the specified persons have moved in within the noted time period;
• the requirement for an agreement between a landlord and tenant concerning an application for vacant possession be approved by the Board;
• And, the increase of the maximum fines from $50,000 to $100,000 in the case of a person other than a corporation and from $250,000 to $500,000 in the case of a corporation, when an offence occurs by a landlord; 

THEREFORE be it FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province of Ontario provide the Landlord Tenant Tribunal (LTB) with the necessary resources to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of Bill 97 regulations to expedite the resolution of eviction hearings.

And further that a copy of this motion be sent to: 

• Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario 
• Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Honourable Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Housing 
• MPP Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Martha Greenberg, Deputy Minister, Municipal Affairs and Housing
• The Association of Municipalities of Ontario
    

Motion in Support of Provincial and Federal Governments Negotiations with the U.S Government on Trade Tariffs 

Moved by: Mayor Meed Ward – Burlington (OBCM Chair)
Seconded by: Mayor Alex Nuttall – Barrie (OBCM Vice Chair) and Mayor Josh Morgan – London (Chair of FCM’s Big City Mayors Caucus)

February 7, 2025

Whereas the federal government is currently in negotiations with the U.S. government on their proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods exported to the U.S.; and

Whereas the Windsor-Detroit border crossing in Ontario is the busiest commercial border crossing between Canada and the U.S., handling approximately $320 million in trade per day; and

Whereas if Ontario were a standalone country, it would be the U.S.’s third-largest trading partner with a near-perfect balance in two-way trade totalling CAD $493 billion in 2023, employing millions of workers on both sides of the border; and

Whereas the Ontario government estimates that the impact of the tariffs on Canadian goods by the U.S. government could mean 450,000 – 500,000 Ontario jobs lost; and

Whereas the Ontario government has outlined several plans to combat the impact the proposed tariffs would have on Ontario including Fortress Am-Can which focus on strengthening trade between Ontario and the U.S. while bringing good jobs back home for workers on both sides of the border; and

Whereas the federal government has also outlined several ways to address the current relationship with the U.S. including establishing the Council on Canada-U.S. relations to support the federal government as it negotiates with the U.S on tariffs, made up of representatives from the auto sector, unions, industry and agriculture; as well as negotiating enhancements to Canada’s Border Plan with the U.S. that includes a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering; and

Whereas Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) includes mayors and municipalities that are members of organizations such as the Ontario Auto Mayors Caucus, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the Border Mayors Alliance, FCM’s Big City Mayors Caucus and other organizations that are advocating for municipalities on the impact these tariffs will have on our local economies, industries and residents; and

Whereas trade between Ontario and the United States is very important to our residents and local economies and requires all levels of government to work together in the best interest of those residents; and

Whereas according to data from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, across Ontario municipalities are expected to spend between $250 and $290 billion on infrastructure in the next 10 years; and

Whereas municipalities have traditionally been prevented by trade agreements from giving preference to Buy Canadian; and

Whereas municipalities can assist in the Team Canada effort to combat tariffs and support businesses in our procurement for capital and infrastructure programs; and 

Whereas there are trade barriers between Canadian provinces.

Therefore, be it resolved that, Ontario’s Big City Mayors offer our support and assistance to the provincial and federal governments to strike a trade deal with the United States that will see a win for all involved when it comes to strengthening our economy and keeping Ontario jobs safe;

And that we support the provincial and federal governments on the measures they have put in place in response to the proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and ask that they take any and all measures to protect the interests of Ontario in any upcoming trade negotiations;  

And that there should be a municipal voice advising the Council on Canada-US Relations, and the Council of the Federation on the impacts to municipalities and possible solutions to address these impacts;

And that the federal and provincial governments remove any impediments to municipalities preferring Canadian companies and services for capital projects and other supplies; 

And that the provincial and federal governments take action to remove trade barriers  between provinces as a response to US tariffs and support Canadian businesses.

Be it further resolved that copies of this motion be sent to:

• The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada 
• The Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
• The Hon. Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs 
• The Hon. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
• The Hon. Nate Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities 
• The Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 
• Rebecca Bligh, President, FCM and Councillor, City of Vancouver
• Josh Morgan, Chair, Big City Mayors’ Caucus and Mayor of London
• Robin Jones, President, AMO and Mayor of Westport
• Karen Redman, Chair, MARCO and Chair, Regional Municipality of Waterloo