The Whitby fiscal framework is under scrutiny as the town urges the provincial government to modernize its outdated fiscal relationship with municipalities. Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy emphasized that the current system, which was designed for 19th-century needs, no longer meets the demands of modern municipal growth and service delivery.
Since the provincial government began downloading services such as public health and social housing, municipalities like Whitby have been burdened with escalating costs. The Whitby fiscal framework has created a significant gap, with $4 billion annually being spent on provincial services.
Whitby’s leaders are joining forces with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to push for a realignment of funding and revenue streams, particularly with respect to housing-related revenues. The town’s leadership is calling for a comprehensive review of the Whitby fiscal framework to ensure that municipalities can handle the costs associated with rapid growth and expanding infrastructure needs.
