Proper funding from the provincial government is perhaps the most serious issue municipalities, especially smaller rural ones, face.
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison says that’s what needs to be enforced at the Rural Ontario Municipalities Conference that begins in Toronto this weekend.
“Property taxes, you know residents and home owners are trying to hold on to what they have and yet we can’t provide the services that we need to provide unless we increase taxes and that’s what we’re faced with in, I think every municipality in Ontario.”
Harrison says their delegation will be included in meetings with provincial representatives including David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, about how to attract and retain municipal staff.
Councillors Shelley Stedall, Duncan Armstrong and Director of Finance Caleb Denouden will represent Quinte West at the ROMA conference.
Representatives from hundreds of smaller Ontario communities will gather for the conference which runs Sunday through Tuesday.
