A Proposal for Municipal Governance in the GTA

A PROPOSAL FOR MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE IN THE GTA

Proposed by Matt Fodor, Toronto
Date: 26/06/2011
For consideration for inclusion in the platform at the pre-election Policy Assembly

WHEREAS a metropolitan government is needed for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) for area-wide coordination and planning purposes;

and WHEREAS local democracy was disregarded by the Conservative government of Mike Harris by the forced amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto, and that a “one size fits all” approach is improper in a large and diverse metropolitan area;

BE IT THEREFORE BE RESOLVED that a two-tier structure of metropolitan government for the GTA, be created. The current City of Toronto and regional municipalities of Halton, Peel, York and Durham shall be abolished and replaced by an upper-tier GTA regional government and elected council. The four community council areas shall be turned into municipalities, and along with other lower-tier municipalities, be responsible for local matters. The GTA government would be responsible for such services as arterial roads, regional planning, public transportation, regional parks and housing.

If you have any proposals to be voted on by the membership for inclusion in the platform of the SPO, please email them to socialistpartyofontario@hotmail.ca