A 50% increase in property taxes is about $100/mo for the average owner of a $million house that continues to grow in value. We have programs in place for homeowners who can't afford to pay their taxes that could be expanded to others who can't pay.

Now think about how much of a burden, financial and otherwise, that these cuts represent for the average person with no assets and not enough income to afford property.

Meanwhile, renters are required to shoulder rent increases of $100/mo regularly & no one bats an eye. (It's a 5% increase in rent on a $2,300/mo rental unit. All rents are increased about 2% /yr, but many w/o rent control or who are hit w/ an AboveGuidelineIncrease pay far more).

This pandemic has shown that our essential workers who are keeping us afloat are the workers who are paid the least & struggling the most. It's also shown that the services the frail and elderly & the homeless rely on make them most at risk of catching & spreading the virus.

Instead of fixing those problems, what's proposed are cuts that will be borne mainly by these same low-income ppl & will cause those inadequate services to deteriorate further. This is shameful. Yes, the province needs to step up, but that's no excuse for TO's handling of this.

#topoli #onpoli