Toronto council backs study of new taxes and fees to address fiscal woes

Toronto city council voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to study new taxes and fees as a way to address its mounting fiscal challenges.

Councillors adopted a motion from Mayor John Tory calling for a deep dive into the options, including a possible parking lot tax, alcohol tax and vehicle registration fee. But the lone politician to vote against the resolution — which passed 25-1 — warned that the vote opens the door to new taxes and will make life in the city more expensive.

"I'm not sure that that vote reflects what the citizens of Toronto are thinking, and my message for them is 'hang on to your wallets,'" Coun. Stephen Holyday said. 

Tory's motion to city council asked staff to update their estimates of the amount of money the taxes and fees could raise and what they'd cost to administer. The motion also calls on staff to assess how such taxes and fees have been used in other cities. 

Staff will now look at the options and could report back as soon as this summer. 

The mayor has estimated the city's current spending gap amounts to over $1.5 billion related to costs from 2022 and 2023. He blames the city's "COVID hangover" for much of the problem and says Ottawa and the province must address it.

The province has committed to cover some costs related to pandemic measures for 2022, but thus far the federal government has not. 

The debate occurs in the backdrop of a proposed seven per cent tax increase this year — 5.5 per cent for property taxes and a 1.5 per cent city building levy.

Council will meet next week to discuss those increases included in the city budget.

Holyday said the city is already doing too much and is writing "cheques that it can't cash" when it comes to service delivery.

"I can't treat the citizens of the city like walking ATMs," Holyday said.

But Coun. Alejandra Bravo fired back at Holyday during the debate, telling him that if the city ignores its obligations on social programs, it pays more downstream.

"When we take care of each other, we don't pay for the unintended consequences of inequality, poverty, increased health care costs, policing costs, criminal justice costs," she said. "Those are incredibly expensive."

Bravo said she was encouraged to see the tone of the debate around the city's finances has changed over the years. Councillors seem to no longer believe that the city can slash its budget and still deliver the same level of service, she said.