The Town of Newmarket is joining a chorus of municipalities demanding upper levels of government fund them with the land transfer tax and a portion of the GST.
Newmarket council endorsed the motion started by Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas, which seeks to have the provincial and federal governments redistribute the GST collected on property sales and the land transfer tax “to provide predictable and sustainable funding to municipalities, allowing for better long-term planning and investment.”
With a provincial election underway and a federal election on the horizon, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said at a council meeting Feb. 10 it is the right time to have this conversation.
“This is about a conversation,” Taylor said. “We’re responsible for, as municipalities, 60 per cent of the infrastructure and roughly around 10 per cent of the taxation we receive to support that 60 per cent ... What we really need now is, during elections, all parties hear enough from municipally elected leaders to bring this into their platform.”
The motion from Mrakas has gained headway since being introduced in November, with more than 130 municipalities signing on in support of it. It comes with municipalities concerned by their ability to fund the cost of infrastructure after the province clawed back charges paid by developers to municipalities.
The resolution got some debate at the Newmarket council table after being brought forward by Councillor Grace Simon to the committee of the whole last week.
In a rare show of dissent in this term of council, Newmarket Councillor Bob Kwapis voted against the resolution. He said the ask is important but did not agree with the timing.
“The timing of it currently is not the right timing and I just want to state that I fully, fully support this. I do not support the timing of it, with all the items that the federal and the provincial government is dealing with right now,” Kwapis said. “I do believe that this ask needs the proper focus and attention that it deserves.”
Councillor Kelly Broome said she sees this as an opportunity to advocate right now.
“This is exactly the right time to be advocating during elections, and always, so this is perfect timing,” she said.