To the Residents of Our Community,
On January 27th, 2026, our collective advocacy forced the City to reduce its 1.5% property tax increase to 0%. While this looks like a win, it is a dangerous election gimmick. Behind the 0% headline is a mountain of hidden debt and “payday loan” tactics that will cause our property taxes to skyrocket in 2027.
Currently, we pay a total rate of 4.36% higher than inflation and neighbouring cities but still our city is broke!
Why the 2027 Major “Tax Hike” is Coming:
- The “Payday Loan”: To give us 0% this year, Council took $19.5M from our hospital account and canceled $15M in downtown repairs.
- The Crushing Debt: The city has accumulated massive debt with no plan to pay it back:
- $78M debt for the Sandalwood property (bought with no appraisal or staff report).
- $11M debt for Argo Electric “Uber” buses we didn’t need.
- $90M in new debt added for the 2026 budget.
- The Deficit Gap: We are facing a $180M infrastructure gap in 2025 and a $17.5M transit deficit from 2025 alone.
- The $2.8B LRT: The City must find 30% of the funding for this project to even begin.
THE $343 MILLION BREAKDOWN: WHERE DID OUR MONEY GO?
To understand why our taxes are at risk, we must look at the $343 Million in spending and lost value accumulated through recent Council decisions. This isn’t just “cost of doing business”, it is a pattern of financial mismanagement.
1. Failed or Cancelled Projects: $196 Million represents the single largest drain on our future. These are major capital programs that were planned, partially funded, or initiated, costing millions in planning, design, and consulting, only to be cancelled or delayed indefinitely with no benefit to the taxpayer. A few examples, he $100M+ Downtown Reimagined core revitalisation, $40M in transit and facility expansions, and $15M in public safety and fire service upgrades.
2. Poor Real Estate Decisions: Approximately $71 Million in staggering losses due to questionable real estate deals. This includes the acquisition of the Hydro One building for $77.9 million, a massive $45.4 million markup for a property that sold for just $32.5 million three years prior, and the transfer of the Civic Centre (valued up to $60 million) for $0. These decisions, compounded by $2.5 million wasted on renovating and relocating the city’s largest public library, represent a massive loss of public value and a failure to protect taxpayer-owned assets.
3. Severance & Restructuring Costs: $38 Million due to a revolving door of high-level leadership and constant organizational churn. This staggering sum has been drained by expensive executive buyouts and repeated departmental restructurings that prioritize “parting ways” over improving front line services. Instead of investing in city infrastructure, these millions have been swallowed by severance packages and administrative reorganization, funding a culture of instability rather than the essential services residents rely on.
4. Salary & Administrative Growth: $26 Million increase in administrative spending beyond baseline payroll increases driven by executive pay scales that significantly outpace local economic growth. This expansion includes a Mayor’s office budget that has nearly doubled since 2019 and a $2.1 million surge in senior police leadership costs. Highlighting this trend is the Police Chief’s new compensation of $611,678—the highest in Canada demonstrating a clear shift in priority toward top-tier administrative growth while residents grapple with an increasingly strained cost of living.
​5. Non-Competitive Contracts: $12 million was awarded without required competitive bidding process. This loss of transparency prevents the City from ensuring residents get the lowest possible price for services.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A 400% increase in residential taxes, increasing rents and homeowners who can no longer afford to pay their property taxes.
OUR DEMAND: We demand that Council end the “Payday Loan” tactic. Focus on basic city services that add value to residents. End all “Pet Projects.” Respect Taxpayer money!
OUR CITY. OUR MONEY.OUR FUTURE!
We would like at least 1500 signatures but the more signatures we gather, the stronger our message will be! Please sign below and share with your neighbors🙏🏽