City of Waterloo advocates for local priorities at AMO; Mayor McCabe elected to AMO Board

The City of Waterloo’s top priority at this year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference continues to be advocating for a review of the financial arrangement between municipalities and the province, including an update to the Heads and Beds payment-in-lieu of property taxes for services provided to post-secondary students.

A delegation of City of Waterloo councillors and senior staff, led by Mayor Dorothy McCabe, were in Ottawa this week to meet with provincial Ministers and representatives.

In January, City of Waterloo council passed a motion asking the Province of Ontario to commit to a comprehensive social and economic prosperity review to promote the stability and sustainability of municipal finances across Ontario. Waterloo delegates met with the Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance during the AMO conference to discuss a joint review of municipal finance, including a detailed analysis of Ontario’s infrastructure investment and service delivery needs.

“As more and more services are downloaded to the municipal level, Waterloo, and many other Ontario municipalities, are requesting a formal review of our fiscal partnership with the province,” said Mayor Dorothy McCabe. “We want to ensure fairness for taxpayers and affordability for residents as all levels of government work together to support the complex challenges of housing affordability, homelessness and climate change.”

The City of Waterloo also discussed the Heads and Beds levy with Minister Bethlenfalvy. The payment-in-lieu of property taxes was established in 1987 to compensate municipalities for the cost of services provided to post-secondary students.

“Waterloo is proud of our three world-class post-secondary institutions,” said Mayor McCabe. “As financial pressures and service delivery costs continue to escalate, the current rate of $75 per bed needs to be increased to keep pace with ongoing costs.”

The City of Waterloo delegation met with Provincial Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria to discuss a commitment to support safe, seamless municipal active transportation networks, particularly where they cross with provincial highways. The limited crossing opportunities and constraints of on- and off-ramps with high motor vehicle speeds and volumes are a challenge for those walking or biking.

“In Waterloo, provincial highway 85 divides our community and presents a significant barrier to pedestrians, cyclists and other active transportation users, including people with disabilities, children and the elderly,” said City of Waterloo Councillor Diane Freeman. “We are looking for the province’s commitment to help us and other municipalities create design standards that ensure safe, secure active transportation corridors can be built over and on Ministry-controlled roadways.”

On Tuesday, it was announced that Mayor Dorothy McCabe has been elected to the AMO Board on the Large Urban Caucus.   

“I'm excited to join the AMO Board and collaborate with other municipal leaders to address our shared challenges,” said Mayor McCabe. “Municipalities across the province are facing the same issues: housing, affordability, climate action, mental health and additions, and the ability to foster accessible, inclusive communities. We are strongest when we are united, and I look forward to bringing Waterloo’s unique perspective to AMO’s work and finding solutions to the tough problems.”

In addition to her new role on the AMO Board, Mayor McCabe continued her advocacy with Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) to support the SolveTheCrisis.ca campaign. The OBCM campaign calls on the provincial and federal governments to take action by calling on the province to create a ministry responsible for this issue as well as developing a task force with various stakeholders, to ensure the correct programs, funding and solutions are put in place for each community’s specific needs.

City of Waterloo delegates also took the opportunity at the AMO conference to discuss grant funding opportunities like the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund. The City will submit an application through the second intake of the fund, a critical step in supporting the Beaver Creek Meadows Water, Sanitary and Storm Expansion project. Beaver Creek Meadows area is one of the remaining residential greenfield development areas in Waterloo, and the City is eagerly seeking support to help advance this important housing development. The City is also excited about the opportunity presented by the newly announced Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund grant. Staff will bring forward a report to Council this fall with project recommendations.

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