BRAMPTON, ON – Ontario’s Big City Mayors came together on Friday in Brampton where housing, homelessness, infrastructure, tariffs and public safety were the focus of discussions. At the meeting two motions were passed – the first Requesting that the Federal Government Commit to Working with OBCM and Municipalities on Changes to Development Charges in new Housing Legislation and the second Requesting the Provincial Government implement the Blue Ribbon Panel’s report and recommendations for the Post-Secondary Sector (see appendix for full motions).
Collaboration was the message of the day when talks turned to finding solutions – not only among mayors, but among all three levels of government. It is imperative that provincial and federal governments partner with municipalities to determine the most effective and impactful ways to address these important concerns for Ontarians. We are doing our part but we cannot do it alone, especially after years of downloading from other levels of government that have left municipalities using the property tax base to pay for and deliver services it was never intended to cover.
Housing and housing enabling infrastructure was a key focus of Friday’s meeting. Although municipalities don’t build homes we are responsible for approvals along with the build and maintenance of the important public infrastructure key to creating complete communities. As the need for housing grows, and the provincial and federal governments are developing legislation and regulatory frameworks to build new housing, there needs to be a commitment from both levels of government to work with municipalities to address the shortfalls of the current system, every step of the way.
During these uncertain times municipalities are also stepping up, working with local businesses and industries, to ensure we can help our residents weather the impacts of tariffs. We are supportive of the great work both the provincial and federal governments have undertaken to keep our economies strong in the face of the ongoing tariff negotiations, and we look forward to working with them on opening up trade within Canada with a focus on strengthening our economies by prioritizing Canadian jobs and industries.
Protecting our borders, our downtowns and the safety of all our residents was also discussed as we look to the province to ensure that there is adequate funding for local police forces. Local police forces are continuing to tackle not only local crime but work with other levels of law enforcement to address organized crime, weapons and illegal drugs that are impacting our communities. As municipal police budgets continue to rise, we need other levels of government to recognize the important work they are doing and fund the programs they need to keep our communities safe.
“Ontario Big City Mayors are continuing to do what we can for their communities. What we need now is the commitment for a strong partnership from the newly elected provincial and federal governments – one that is focused on working together through policy and sustainable, predictable funding to address the challenges we face. The time to act is now, to address the housing and homelessness crisis, to create safe and complete communities and to protect our local economies. OBCM looks forward to being at the table.”
- Marianne Meed Ward – Mayor of Burlington and Chair of OBCM
About Ontario’s Big City Mayors
Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) is a non-partisan 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 – Motions Passed
Motion Requesting that the Federal Government Commit to Working with OBCM and Municipalities on Changes to Development Charges in new Housing Legislation
Moved by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward – OBCM Chair
Whereas across Ontario and all of Canada we are in a housing crisis due to a lack of available and affordable housing options for residents as our population continues to grow at a rapid rate; and
Whereas municipalities in Ontario operate on a “growth pays for growth” model where we charge development fees on all new construction to help fund the capital costs associated with growth-related infrastructure including (but not limited to) extending municipal services to new developments, such as roads, transit, water and wastewater infrastructure, community centres, libraries, schools and fire and policing facilities; and
Whereas under the the Ontario Development Charges Act as well as many of our Municipal By-laws we have included development charge exemptions for non-profit, affordable and attainable housing projects; and
Whereas at the recent Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference in Ottawa, Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated that he would cut development charges in half and make municipalities whole as part of the federal government’s new housing initiatives; and
Whereas Ontario’s Big City Mayors represents over 70% of the population of Ontario, and almost 30% of the population of Canada*, including several of the fastest growing municipalities in Canada.
Therefore be it resolved that Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) requests that the federal government commit to working with our organization in the development of new housing legislation the impacts the collection of development charges;
And that municipalities be consulted on the impact of changes to development charges so they may plan for future capital costs while helping to play their part to get the housing built that our residents need;
And that we appreciate the Prime Minister’s commitment to keep municipalities whole and request a conversation about how the federal government will achieve this goal.
Be it further resolved that copies of this motion be sent to:
- The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
- The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue
- The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure
- The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy
- 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
*StatsCan – Census Metropolitan Areas estimates for 2024
Motion requesting the Provincial Government implement the Blue Ribbon Panel’s report and recommendations for the Post-Secondary Sector
Moved by Mayor Dorothy McCabe – Waterloo
Whereas Ontario’s post-secondary institutions are facing unprecedented financial pressures, including the lowest per-student funding in the country, an ongoing tuition freeze, and reduced international student revenues;
Whereas post-secondary institutions have already made significant spending cuts, impacting the programs, research, and student supports needed to fuel Ontario’s economy and workforce;
Whereas Ontario funds its post-secondary sector at the lowest level in Canada for universities and colleges and Ontario’s per-student funding is significantly below the Canadian average and has even fallen further behind other provinces in recent years due to declining provincial funding and stagnant tuition fees and
Whereas the 2024/2025 funding from the provincial Sustainability Fund and the $100M allocation related to the over-enrollment in STEM programs is one-time funding that does little to address the ongoing declining operating funding challenge, and
Whereas these pressures threaten Ontario’s ability to produce the skilled graduates, research, and innovation on which our economy depends, and
Whereas the cost to the province of attracting a highly educated and skilled workforce in the future will far exceed the much-needed investments in education and training required today, and
Whereas Ontario is facing growing economic pressures, including tariffs, trade disruptions, rising costs, and shifting global supply chains, and now more than ever needs a strong foundation of homegrown research, innovation, and talent to maintain its competitiveness and resilience;
Therefore be it resolved that the Ontario Big City Mayors call on the Province to accelerate the implementation of the recommendations in the Blue Ribbon Panel report, commissioned by the province, specifically, advance its review of the post-secondary funding model, increase operating grant levels, and ensure institutions have the resources necessary to continue delivering high-quality education and research that is required to enhance Ontario’s competitiveness, economic prosperity and effective transition to the “one Canadian economy”,
And that a copy of this motion be sent to:
- The Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
- The Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance
- The Hon. Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security
- The Hon. Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
- Alan Shepard, Chair, Ontario University Council
- Alan Harrison, Chair, Blue Ribbon Panel on Post-Secondary Education on Financial Sustainability