GTA

Doug Ford reverses retroactive funding cuts amid fierce pressure from Toronto

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reversed this year’s cuts to municipal funding, including child care, public health and EMS, but future cuts will continue as planned.

“We’re a government that listens,” Ford told reporters outside his office at Queen’s Park Monday morning. “We’re going to give the mayors more time. We’re going to work with them.”

The Progressive Conservative government has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks over funding changes first revealed in its spring budget. The City of Toronto has said it’s losing millions in funding for everything from public health to child care to paramedics.

More than 31,000 people in Toronto signed a petition demanding the province reverse the cuts, which were revealed after the city passed its 2019 budget.

“This is a very good announcement,” said Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark. “It’s being very responsive to what our municipal partners are saying.”

The cuts, combined with the cancellation of an increase to municipalities’ share of the gas tax, mean local governments would be out well over half a billion dollars annually.

Tory thanks Ford

The City of Toronto had said the cuts would have a significant negative impact on the public. The total cuts amounted to $177 million in 2019, city officials said.

In a statement, Toronto Mayor John Tory thanked Ford for reversing the cuts, adding that both governments must work together more closely before Ontario’s 2020 budget.

“This must be done in a prudent, collaborative manner that does not impact the vital services that people in Toronto rely on each and every day,” Tory wrote. “This can only be done if we work together.”

While Toronto Board of Health chair Joe Cressy said the government “did the right thing” by reversing the cuts, he said the impact may only have been delayed until next year.

“We must all continue to stand up and speak out to ensure future cuts to our vital public health and child-care services do not proceed,” he said in a statement.

Giving municipalities ‘more runway’

While Ford said he’s still calling on municipalities to reduce their spending, he acknowledged some will need more time to do so.

“We’re willing to work with them and give them more runway,” he said.

“Are we right a 1,000 per cent of time? I wish we were right 1,000 per cent of the time,” Ford added.

Ontario has 444 municipalities, and many expressed concern about the funding cuts.

In London, the city estimated it was losing some $4 million that would have helped pay for everything from public health to policing.

In Ottawa, Mayor Jim Watson said the cuts had thrown the city into a “period of chaos” by pulling millions in funding.

Last week, Ford revealed a new fund to help cities and school boards review their budgets in an effort to find additional savings.

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Fonte
CBC

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