News release

December 4, 2002
All taxpayers should fund increases in emergency services

If the proposed 2003 Budget is approved, 1/3 of the net operating budget will pay for police, fire and emergency medical services (paramedics), more than any other single category. City of Toronto Budget Chair David Shiner today encouraged the province to allow the City of Toronto to spread the increased cost of these services more equitably to all who benefit.

"The City and the Province have common goals in recognizing the importance of maintaining the public safety and security of our community. Ensuring that Toronto remains one of the safest cities in the world was a key budget principle established in 2002. The proposed 2003 Budget demonstrates the City's continued commitment to this principle by maintaining 2002 service levels and includes an increase of $42 million to maintain frontline staff in the three emergency services areas."

Each day the City of Toronto increases by one million people, most of who come into the city to work. Businesses benefit from the emergency services available to them and their employees. It is only reasonable that they also share in the costs of providing these services that have increased substantially since 1998.

However, as a result of Bill 140 (provincial legislation) Toronto homeowners must carry the full burden of any tax increase that may be necessary to protect these frontline staff. This provincial legislation does not permit the City to pass any increase on the commercial and business sectors -- two-thirds of its total tax base.

"Since the amalgamation in 1998, the City of Toronto's budget for emergency services has increased by $179 million. For the past five years increases to business taxes have been zero," stated Councillor Shiner. He added, "With the severe financial pressure the City is facing this year, it seems fair and reasonable to ask businesses in Toronto to fund at least part of this year's $42 million increase for emergency services."

Since 1998 the City has added 117 more frontline firefighters, 263 more frontline paramedics and 185 more uniformed police officers. The City continues to be involved in productive discussions with the province to seek assistance in offsetting some of the operating budget pressures in 2003.