On March 9, 2026, the Town of Whitby Council in Ontario approved a motion calling for a major update to how the province provides money to local communities. Mayor Elizabeth Roy and local leaders are asking for a new system because they say property taxes are being used to pay for provincial programs, creating a $4 billion yearly gap for towns across Ontario.
According to a statement from Mayor Elizabeth Roy, the current setup forces local taxpayers to cover the costs of services like social housing and hospital buildings. The mayor noted that these expenses should be the responsibility of the provincial government rather than being paid for through local property tax bills.
To manage these financial pressures, the town implemented a 2026 budget that included $2 million in spending cuts and a freeze on new hiring. These measures were taken to keep the town finances stable while local leaders push for a more sustainable way to fund community services.
While the provincial government increased the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund to $600 million for 2026, local officials say this does not solve the long-term problem. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario continues to advocate for a deeper review of how the province and towns share the cost of public services.
