Ford’s failure to invest in municipalities hurts everyone

March 27, 2023

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to reports of increased incidents of violence on Toronto public transit.

“The recent violent incidents on the TTC are tragic and deeply concerning.

They’re also symptoms of a province that is failing municipalities across Ontario.

We know that upstream investments in housing, poverty reduction and mental health make communities stronger and safer.

But for months, municipalities have been sounding the alarm about their need for more provincial funding to continue meeting their residents’ needs.

And yet last week’s budget contained almost no new funding for municipalities, save a $202 million investment in supportive housing and homelessness programs that is completely insufficient to deal with the scale of the crisis at hand.

The solutions to these problems are right in front of us.

Invest in the public services that make our lives better. Services like affordable and deeply affordable housing and accessible and comprehensive mental healthcare.

And give municipalities the support they need to build vibrant, dynamic communities where everyone has what they need.

A government that won’t support municipalities is a government that won’t support the people of Ontario.

And the people of Ontario deserve so much better.”

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