Darren Atkinson

Create a surcharge to reflect the real financial headroom foreign investors receive - the spread between the US reserve dollar and ours. The province now takes 20% - we will charge the difference and 10% on top - approx. 20%. We could use this to reign in our debt and service budget needs as we grant foreign investors access to our stable investment safe haven. - one our greatest unacknowledged assets. We need performance clauses, including timelines, in contracts we issue subcontractors, and we need to act on non-performance always.

Chloe-Marie Brown

The land value tax (LVT) model would gradually replace the current property tax assessment model used for calculating “building values” (structures constructed, improved or maintained on property) to advance tax fairness, create financial stability during recession and inflation, and encourage real estate development. A land value tax, paired with the existing vacancy tax would be aimed at changing the financial motivations for owners of expensive land with low density structures.

Drew Buckingham

Absolutely! Raise property taxes to feed the children of Toronto. Cut the salary of the mayor and councilmen to fund breakfast and lunch programs. It's just unbelievable that in a city as wealthy as Toronto is that so much child poverty and hunger exists. It's also hard to believe in Toronto the Good when as a collective we neglect our most prized treasures. Our children. That this current mayor doesn't seem to get that is nothing short of astonishing. These kids do not need more lip service. What so many of them need is.....FOOD!!!

Sarah Climenhaga

Property taxes as the sole source of income for this city is a dangerous all eggs in one basket approach to revenue that I believe can change. I appreciate user pay approaches to city services like water, garbage and sewage, while making sure basic amenities like libraries, parks, pools and city recreational facilities are free. I am interested in having a participatory and transparent approach to budgeting, so residents know what they are paying for, and have a say in how money gets raised and spent.

Phillip D'Cruze

Property tax has been the topic for every election. I would lie to increase property taxes for large companies, grocery stores and their chains for the land they lease. Increase the property tax on wealthy residences. City services could greatly benefit and increase by money taken from a reduced police budget, putting it back to the community.

Cory Deville

Residents should be presented with an easily digestible view of tax dollars collected and spent. This will allow them to determine the value of their return on investment. Special attention should be placed on Police Funding with a pause on any spending outside of operation necessary functions. Funding beyond this point should be focused on programs that promote emotional intelligence, immediately actionable consequences for police misconduct via community review board, and better education surrounding mental health & non-lethal deescalation.

Isabella Gamk

I would have to look into Municipal Taxes and City Services before deciding where improvements could be made. This would entail meetings with city employees and department heads to bring me up to speed. I am a fairly fast learner even when the learning curve is steep. Could or should Patios on roadways be taxed would be one thing I would look into. I would also look into the back room deal the Toronto Community Housing Corporation has with the Province because it seems to be being run into the ground on purpose in some places.

Robert Hatton

Yes! First, tax breaks need to be reigned in, and the revenue savings applied to services. Second, the obsession with keeping taxes low at all costs benefits wealthy land owners and undermines services needed most by the less affluent. Further help is needed for small storefront retail if it is to remain a vibrant part of our city. Meanwhile fees and charges have not been constrained, and often are harder to bear for the poorest citizens. After twenty years of this approach, things are out of balance.

Soaad Hossain

The next Mayor should definitely change city services. The population of Toronto has increased over the years and will continue to increase. Additionally, due to technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors, the condition of living has changed over the years as well. Accordingly, the services offered by the city should also adapt to these changes and to the needs of the population so that the people, businesses, institutions and other entities in Toronto can survive, benefit and thrive while the changes take place.

Khadijah Jamal

Eventually reductions in taxes will take place and an increase to city services - but first, it will be a matter of reviewing past decisions and readjusting budgets and possibly renegotiation of city contracts to ensure the best deals are in place for the continued success of the city.

Tony Luk

Please see number 3. In addition, I will freeze property taxes during my tenure without reducing any municipal services, freeze the salaries of all elected municipal officials and city officials. Increase revenue streams such as sale of unused city-owned assets. I will lead the municipal government to fight inflation in union with my fellow Torontonians.

Gil Penalosa

Toronto deserves better than the last 8 years: weeks to clear snow after a storm or downed branches after a storm. Garbage cans overflowing or broken. Swim classes and rec programs cancelled because of poor pay. As Mayor, I will not allow our services and programs continue to decline as they have the past 8 years. I will work with other regional and Big City mayors to advocate for Toronto’s fair share of the federal and provincial governments’ surpluses. If that funding isn’t available, the City must raise revenues to deliver quality services.

Stephen Punwasi

Yes! Municipal revenues need diversification to cut the dependency on property and transfer taxes. A real estate bubble is currently a windfall for the city. This misaligns interests at the expense of public stability. Our platform involves diversification of revenues to address this issue. One example is our transit plan, that involves using TTC lands to build perpetual recurring revenue. It's common in Japan, where transit companies build shopping malls and offices, bringing in 30% of revenue.

John Tory

I am focused on keeping life affordable for Torontonians, particularly in the face of rising interest rates and inflation. That is why I have committed to keeping any property tax increases below the rate of inflation. I am also focused on finding efficiencies and smarter ways of doing things within the city government. This means making sure the city services Torontonians count on each day are delivered with good quality and good value for money, using every tool we have in the 21st century.

Reginald Tull

My Plastic to Fuel Initiative will create 30,000 jobs in the city, reduce trash and pollution, and allow for a two year freeze on property tax increase. More money can then be invested into social services. In regards to city services, I will provide quicker emergency response units by replacing police officers as front desk administrators at police stations to privately trained security companies or retired veterans; this will allow for more police on the streets. I will also give new businesses a 25% tax rebate for their first three years.

Jack Yan

Toronto is wasting millions of dollars every day. An unacceptably large portion of the budget goes towards servicing the few that benefit from it. The city is spending over a billion dollars every year on shelter costs and affordable housing without addressing the root of the problem. This misallocation has only grown without any sight of a slowdown, and unsurprisingly, the homelessness and housing crises have only gotten worse. Jack's housing plan and his effort to reduce government waste will eliminate such inefficiencies and lower taxes.