Ontario offers advice, not cash to strapped cities
Last Updated: Friday, July 20, 2007 | 1:00 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Ontario's finance minister is throwing struggling municipalities a lifeline — but not in the form of a cheque.
Greg Sorbara says the province would be happy to help cities like Toronto that are struggling with budget deficits or considering hefty tax hikes to balance their books.
He says the province can send in experts to take a look at the books of strapped municipalities, or agencies like the Toronto Transit Commission, and help find savings.
The commission is meeting Friday to consider drastic service cuts due to funding shortfalls.
Sorbara told reporters on Friday that he's not going to be signing any cheques or remove any financial responsibility to help bail out municipalities.
New Democrat Paul Ferreira says offering experts is a patronizing response to the crisis municipalities find themselves in.
He says the Liberal government should take back responsibility for provincial programs like disability support, which is funded from the property tax base.
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