Building Better Local Communities

Ontario's 444 municipalities, large and small, are not respected, valued or supported by Doug Ford. From his obsession with meddling in City of Toronto affairs while ignoring hundreds of other municipalities, to unilaterally downloading major costs and cutting funding for local priorities, Doug Ford's Conservatives are preventing our cities and towns from thriving.

Lee Fairclough has a plan to restore trust, partnership and respect with Ontario's municipalities. She will improve the way the province and municipalities work together, respect the decisions of local government, and invest in the services that people rely on while halting provincial downloading.

Here are Lee's commitments to support local communities as Ontario Liberal Leader:

Restore Local Democracy

Support local democracy and decision-making by repealing all staff powers bestowed to strong mayors, including removing the ability of a strong mayor to unilaterally hire or fire a City Manager/CAO or other senior public servants. Freeze all other strong mayor powers until a comprehensive review and consultation is conducted.

Make Local Regional Chairs Local Again

Immediately repeal the ability for the Premier to appoint regional chairs to end this undemocratic practice.

Regulate Data Centres

Through provincial government leadership and legislation, Lee will provide real leadership on regulating data centres. Rather than leaving municipalities to figure it out for themselves, her plan will address Ontarians' concerns including impacts on energy-use, hydro bills, and increased pollution, alongside job and economic benefits, and data sovereignty.

Get Local Communities Moving

Lee will prioritize fast, effective transportation and transit projects to get people moving, including making transit more affordable, investing in regional transit across Ontario, and improving safety on Highway 11, 17, and the Trans-Canada, through highway twinning or the two-plus-one model, and complete twinning on Highway 69.

Fair, Balanced and Stable Local Planning

Rather than Doug Ford's chaotic approach to land use planning and zoning, Lee will be guided by the principles of fairness, balance and stability when working with municipal Councils, local planners and bodies like the Ontario Land Tribunal.

End Provincial Downloading to Municipalities

Conservatives have pushed the costs for provincial responsibilities onto communities, particularly for healthcare, housing, infrastructure and homelessness. This drives up property taxes and fees, and places an unfair burden on municipalities who are already struggling to fund services and programs. Lee will make sure the province pays its fair share and gives municipal taxpayers a break.

With Lee Fairclough as Premier, Ontario will get back in the game to help support and sustain health care, education, daycares, colleges and workforce training in communities across Ontario, powering their local economy and helping them retain and attract the talented people they need to succeed.

Resetting our relationship with local governments will make Ontario even stronger and more successful. Ontario's municipalities are worth fighting for.