AMO’s Top 12 Asks

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario just released its top 12 priorities for the Provincial Election:

• Will meet (or beat) promised upload of $1.5 billion in social services and court security costs by 2018
• Won’t download costs, or add new ones to Ontario’s limited property tax base
• Will create a separate, new, predictable and permanent fund for municipal roads and bridges
• Will make permanent Provincial Gas Tax revenue of about $318 million for transit
• Will ensure arbitration process achieves affordable, accountable and transparent decisions
• Will protect taxpayers from excessive insurance claims (by addressing joint and several liability)
• Will promote personal and producer responsibility for waste (it’s costly; polluters should pay)
• Will provide tools for collecting $1 billion in unpaid Provincial Offences Act fines
• Will consolidate housing programs with current or more funding
• Won’t introduce property assessment or taxation caps
• Will provide clear, fair energy policy that supports sound planning and investment in our electricity system
• Will review Development Charges Act (growth should pay for itself)