Premier Ford and Mayor Chow Continue to Invite Federal Government to Join Working Group
TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Olivia Chow released the following statement about the new deal working group: “Today, we received an update from the new deal working group. Today’s meeting was a scheduled touchpoint established in the terms of reference. Together, we are making great progress toward landing a new deal for Toronto.
Over the last few weeks, the working group has met six times and developed a shared understanding of the city’s financial position. They have begun drilling down on shared priorities, including supporting transit, infrastructure, shelters and housing, as well as getting Toronto’s finances back on a stable and sustainable path. Over the next month, the working group will develop a set of concrete, actionable recommendations that will be put in front of us to carefully consider. We are moving quickly and are grateful to our respective senior public servants for their dedication.
As we look for long-term solutions, the federal government has an important role to play as well. Toronto is Canada’s most populous city and is the largest municipal contributor to the country’s economy. Left unsolved, the problems the city faces, including housing asylum seekers, spill over into the broader region. We continue to invite the federal government to be a partner in a new deal that will help make sure Canada’s largest city, and through it, the region, province and country, is set up for success.
When Toronto wins, Canada wins.”
Background:
- On September 18, 2023, Premier Doug Ford and Mayor Olivia Chow announced a working group of senior public servants from the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto that will explore opportunities for a new deal with respect to the city’s finances.
- The objective of the working group will make recommendations to achieve long-term stability and sustainability of the city’s finances, while avoiding new taxes and cuts to frontline services.
- To date, the working group has held six meetings and there are at least eight more meetings scheduled before the end of November.
- The key deliverable of the working group will be a set of specific and actionable recommendations for the city, province and federal government to address Toronto’s financial stability and sustainability. These recommendations will be delivered to the premier and mayor to consider for implementation by the end of November 2023.
- Meetings of the working group are chaired by City Manager Paul Johnson and Ontario Deputy Minister of Finance Greg Orencsak.
- Today’s meeting between Premier Ford and Mayor Chow was a touchpoint to provide them with an update on the work to-date and seek feedback on shared deliverables.