Local governments have limited options to raise revenue to pay for new pressures and responsibilities. There is an over-reliance on property taxation that never contemplated funding the service delivery and infrastructure gaps that are linked to provincial mandates in areas such as:
- Building new community infrastructure to support legislated housing growth.
- Funding pre-hospital care for those with mental health and addiction issues.
- Subsidizing affordable housing units to tackle housing affordability and homelessness.
These cost pressures are pushing local governments to raise taxes, rely on one-time grants, or divert funds from core local responsibilities. In the absence of uploading responsibilities back to the Province, local governments require new revenue streams to address the gaps in provincial services, to effectively implement demanding new legislation, and to continue to support the Province in tackling the most critical issues facing our communities: infrastructure deficits, housing supply and homelessness, public safety, infrastructure deficits, and climate resiliency.
- Stretched to the Limit: a report on UBCM's 2024 provincial election priorities
- Summary of UBCM priorities for the 2024 provincial election
UBCM is calling for the next provincial government to address these pressures through new provincial transfers to local governments.
Housing & Homelessness
All parties commit to an annual transfer of a percentage of the provincial Property Transfer Tax to support local efforts in subsidizing affordable housing supply and homelessness responses.
Investing in Infrastructure
All parties commit to an annual allocation-based transfer equivalent to the doubling of the Canada Community-Building Fund funding to support local capital and operating infrastructure priorities.
Climate Action & Emergency Management
All parties commit to transferring annually a percentage of the growth in the provincial carbon tax to support local climate action projects and emergency management planning and responses.