Small Urban GTHA Mayors Hear from Minister of Finance

*Please see below a statement issued by the Small Urban GTHA Mayors caucus.December 13, 2023On Friday, Dec. 8, the Small Urban GTHA Mayors welcomed the Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, for a discussion on municipal supports for small towns and cities struggling to fund enabling housing infrastructure and servicing required to hit growth targets. We spoke about our concern for the long-term financial sustainability of our rural communities and the provision of equitable and sustainable funding amongst all municipalities.Pressure on our fiscal needs continues to grow at an unsustainable level, and development and housing activity, for many of us, is at a standstill. Investment in water and wastewater infrastructure remains critical to building homes faster. However, since development charge revenues have decreased and we are faced with unique capital challenges, we look to the provincial and federal governments for additional support.The Province has acknowledged that housing remains the biggest challenge in front of us and is a fundamental need for citizens and new immigrants, so all levels of government need to work efficiently and effectively together to build homes faster. We were delighted to hear that it is important for this party to support rural communities and that it considers investment in infrastructure paramount, and funding will be a continuous rather than one and done process. We hope to have more conversations about greater financial support required to offset losses so that municipalities can be kept whole, as per the Province’s commitment.The Small Urban GTHA Mayors look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Province to secure equitable and sustainable sources of funding to help grow our communities.About Small Urban GTHA MayorsThe Small Urban GTHA Mayors caucus includes mayors of 13 Ontario urban towns with a population under 100,000 and chaired by Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas. The Small Urban GTHA Mayors advocate for issues and policies important to Ontario’s small urban municipalities.The current Chair for the Small Urban GTHA Mayors caucus is Township of King Mayor Steve Pellegrini.**Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward attends Small Urban GTHA Mayors caucus meetings as a liaison to larger municipalities in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area.