Hampton says upload now, not later

Queen’s Park - With more property taxpayers facing layoffs and municipal social service costs rising as a result, the McGuinty government must accelerate its planned upload of provincially-mandated social assistance programs, says NDP Leader Howard Hampton.
“Municipalities and property taxpayers can’t wait ten years, they need help now,” said Hampton, referring to the McGuinty government’s plan to complete the social service upload a full decade from now.
“Swelling social assistance costs should be absorbed by the province because it has the fiscal capacity to handle it. Cash-strapped municipalities do not and their financial situation will only worsen as the recession deepens,” he added.
An upload of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program benefits over two years would save municipalities $1-billion. That price-tag will rise as job losses mount and more Ontarians turn to social assistance to try and make ends meet.
“It’s perverse that municipalities experiencing heavy job losses are being forced to raise property taxes. Not only are unemployed homeowners worried about their futures, they are also now confronting escalating property tax bills,” said Hampton.