Mitzie Hunter’s intergovernmental game plan includes a play to secure massive federal contribution for affordable housing units

None of the other candidates who have put forward proposals meet federal requirements for funding but pretend support is automatic

Toronto – Mitzie Hunter’s six-point intergovernmental game plan includes a specific play to secure a massive federal contribution so many more affordable housing units for Toronto can be built.

In contrast, none of the other candidates who have put forward housing proposals meet federal requirements for funding but pretend support somehow is automatic.

“My intergovernmental game plan includes a specific play to secure equitable treatment for Toronto’s efforts to build affordable housing,” Hunter says.

“Other candidates are either kidding themselves or trying to fool people into thinking that federal funding for their housing schemes is somehow automatic.

“They would be left high and dry because they are putting forward proposals that do not meet federal requirements and have no game plan to get federal dollars.”

Hunter’s six-point intergovernmental relations game plan includes:

1. Securing equitable federal support for new affordable housing.
2. Leading a coalition of mayors to secute one point of the HST
3. Ending double transit fares
4. Building more transit
5. Recouping health expenses
6. Securing Funding for Refugee-Related Costs

“My gameplan for working with the provincial and federal governments is practical, pragmatic, and realistic,” says Hunter. “It is the best approach for getting real results for Toronto.”

Here’s how Hunter’s intergovernmental game plan works:

Securing Equitable Federal Support for new Affordable Housing: The CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund has very specific requirements that a city must meet to qualify for funding. None of the housing proposals proposed by any of the candidates meet these requirements. Unlike other candidates, Hunter will not pretend that funding is automatic and instead will work with the federal government to secure equivalent funding.

Hunter’s proposed Toronto Affordable Housing Corporation and plan to build 11,236 affordable rental units – more than any other candidate – would mean a federal capital contribution of almost $517 million. Hunter is also prepared to accept this support from the federal government in the form of an equity investment in the TAHC.

Leading a coalition of mayors to secure one point of the HST: Hunter will be the city's champion, and will make sure that Toronto is a leader in bringing together big cities to secure a new deal for all municipalities similar to the successful strategy that led to the Gas Tax Transfers from each government. Hunter will call upon the federal and Ontario governments to dedicate one pointof their existing HST revenue to a new transfer to benefit all cities and communities. This would result in between $805 and $898 million for Toronto.

There are also ways to deliver support that do not involve new transfers or programs. Hunter is calling on the Ontario government to lower its property tax for education to create tax room for municipalities. Even a 50-per-cent reduction in the education property tax could generate over $1 billion for Toronto.

Ending Double Transit Fares: The Province wants a deal to eliminate the two fares paid when transferring to or from the TTC and GO or one of the neighbouring transit systems in Durham, York, Mississauga and Brampton.

This will benefit riders and encourage more people to use transit. But it cannot be done on the back of the TTC which is far and away the most important part of the regional transit network.

Hunter will work with the Province to secure a fair deal for Toronto that fully recognizes the TTC’s central and preeminent role delivering transit in the region.

Building More Transit: Hunter will relentlessly work to secure federal and provincial commitments to fund -- and quickly proceed with -- her transit expansion priorities to accelerate the delivery of the Scarborough Eglinton East LRT, the North-York Scarborough Subway and the East Waterfront LRT.

Recouping Health Expenses: Hunter will seek one-time Provincial compensation for the $101.8 million in 2023 health expenses in long-term care and public health directly caused by efforts to reduce the risk of outbreak of COVID.

Securing Funding for Refugee-Related Costs: Refugee policy is exclusively a federal responsibility, and the Federal government should reimburse Toronto for the $130 million per year we dedicate to servicing refugees. Funding has been provided in previous years and must be provided now and every year that Toronto dedicates resources to address this federal responsibility.

“Other candidates are pretending that federal dollars automatically appears. They are kidding themselves or trying to fool us,” says Hunter.

“In contrast, I have a pragmatic game plan and a specific play for federal dollars.

“Pretending to have a plan, or a practical and pragmatic game plan. The choice is clear. My plan will Fix the Six. Join me.”

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Contact:

Charmain Emerson

charmain@culturedcommunications.ca

Remarks by Mitzie Hunter announcing her intergovernmental gameplan, June 23, 2023:

• Since the beginning of this campaign I have systematically laid out my priorities.
• More affordable housing, more quickly. 

• Unlocking public lands for affordable housing. 

• Below-market price housing for renters and buyers.

• Investing more in city services… so the city works better.

• More potholes filled, better snow clearance… 

• Enhanced and improved neighbourhood parks.

• More affordable TTC… with seniors and Wheel Trans users to ride free. 

• Reversing the TTC fare increase and service cuts.

• Today I am talking about my game plan… 

• To secure federal support to build many more affordable housing units than any other candidate.

• My six-point intergovernmental game plan includes a specific play to secure equitable treatment for Toronto’s efforts to build affordable housing.

• Other candidates are either kidding themselves…

• Or trying to fool people into thinking that federal funding for their housing schemes is somehow automatic. 

• It’s not… And they would be left high and dry because they are putting forward proposals that do not federal requirements… 

• And they have no game plan to get federal dollars. 

• My six-point intergovernmental game plan also includes:

• Securing a point of the existing HST for municipalities 

• Ending double transit fares…
• Building more transit… 

• Recouping health expenses… and
• Securing funding for refugee-related costs…

• My gameplan for working with the provincial and federal government is practical… pragmatic… 

• It’s the best approach… for getting real results for Toronto. 

• Other candidates indulge in bashing the federal and provincial governments… 

• That approach gets us exactly nowhere.

• My approach earns respect… and gets results.

• As mayor, that will be my approach to intergovernmental relations.

• Other candidates are pretending that federal dollars automatically appears. They are kidding themselves or trying to fool us.

• In contrast, I have a pragmatic game plan and a specific play for federal dollars. 

• Pretending to have a plan… or a practical and pragmatic game plan. 

• The choice is clear.

• I am running for mayor because I want to lead Toronto’s revival. 

• I have a comprehensive, fully-costed plan…

• To do exactly that. 

• I want to Fix the Six.

• So we can have the Toronto that works for everyone.

• Join me. Let’s Fix the Six… together.

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