"A partnership that works,” Stiles and Ontario NDP push new deal for municipalities at AMO conference

OTTAWA – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition, along with the Ontario NDP caucus will be meeting with mayors, councillors, and municipal leaders from across the province at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario annual conference to hear about real solutions from those who know their communities best.

“People aren’t asking for miracles,” said Stiles. “They’re simply asking for a partnership that works. And that is exactly what our team is fighting for.”

“Municipalities are on the front lines here. They’re keeping our roads safe, our water clean, and our communities healthy. But for years, Queen’s Park has been pushing more costs onto them without the funding to match. It’s time for a real partnership where the province pays its fair share, listens to local leaders, and stops forcing communities to do more with less.”

“Municipal leaders have been clear: they need the province to be a partner, not an obstacle,” said Stiles. “A new deal will strengthen communities, protect public services, and make life better for people in every corner of Ontario.”

BACKGROUND

Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP are all in for stronger and more resilient communities with commitments that will empower municipalities to make life better for Ontarians with:

• Social and Economic Prosperity Review: Comprehensive Social and Economic Prosperity Review to modernize Ontario’s fiscal framework to ensure municipalities have the tools, resources, and respect they need to serve their communities
• Buy Ontario, Build Ontario: We are pushing the government to prioritize Ontario-made goods and materials in infrastructure projects, create good local jobs, and support communities impacted by U.S. tariffs.
• Get back in the business of building homes: We are bringing bold solutions like Homes Ontario, to get the government back in the business of building affordable homes, in partnership with municipalities. We are also calling for action to protect the existing stock of rental homes with real rent control and tenant protection.
• Delivering reliable, affordable transit: Our new deal will reinstate 50-50 cost-sharing between the province and municipalities when it comes to delivering transit. This means that the province pays its fair share, and communities get reliable, frequent, and affordable public transit.
• Predictable and permanent infrastructure funding: We are calling for a formula-based provincial funding to support municipal infrastructure including roads, bridges, sewers, water treatment, with added support for rural and Northern communities managing large areas with a shrinking tax base.
• Upload provincial highways: We are pushing to reverse the downloading of highway costs by previous Conservative governments that left municipalities with unfair costs. An Ontario NDP government will upload the full cost of maintaining connecting links and provincial highways, ease pressure on local budgets, and restore fairness.