NDP Municipal Affairs Critic Michael Prue says Dalton McGuinty should not delay action on the municipal funding crisis until after the next election.

“Once again, Dalton McGuinty is making promises he has no intention of keeping,” said Prue. “He′s putting off dealing with the municipal funding crisis until after the next election because he doesn′t have a solution – and he doesn′t want to find one.”

“The same Dalton McGuinty who promised not to raise taxes, to freeze hydro rates, to roll back tolls on the 407, now expects us to trust him to produce a solution after the election. Ontarians deserve better,” said Prue.

Across Ontario municipal councils are struggling with the cost of providing downloaded services such as public health, social assistance and social housing. Last year the cost of providing these programs resulted in a $3.2 billion subsidy to the province. Ontario is the only province in Canada where municipal property taxes are used to subsidize provincial health and social services programs. One of the results is skyrocketing property taxes.

“Dalton McGuinty can′t simply punt the problem off until after the next election,” Prue said. “If he′s serious about finding a solution he′ll find one, and present it to voters before he goes to the polls – not after.”