Toronto - May 15, 2019 - A Ford tax could be coming to people's property tax bills. NDP Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath said that families will be left on the hook for Doug Ford’s deep cuts to municipalities, with cities like Toronto and Peel facing multi-million dollar budget shortfalls.

In London, City Council is considering a 2.7 per cent property tax hike as a result of Ford's cuts. Hamilton said another 1 per cent property tax hike could be needed to offset Ford's cuts. And the City of Toronto is facing a budget shortfall of $178 million and contemplating issuing a second set of tax notices to make up the difference.

“Since Doug Ford tabled his budget, municipalities throughout Ontario have been hit with cut after cut,” said Horwath. “Now, cities are forced to choose between making deep cuts to municipal services or increasing taxes on families.

“One way or another, people throughout the province are paying big for Ford’s cuts.”

The Ford Conservatives have slashed Public Health budgets and eliminated 25 Public Health Units throughout Ontario. Cuts to municipal child care programs have put thousands of subsidized child care spaces at risk. Ford cancelled a planned increase to the municipal transit transfer, which is a share of the existing gas tax.

In question period on Wednesday, Horwath committed to continuing to partner with municipalities and families to push back against Ford’s cuts.