Civic clashes
And who wants to be Mississauga's Mayor?
ABOVE THE FOLD
CLAMSHELL CLASH — After inking a historic deal with Premier DOUG FORD to upload a pair of pricey highways, Toronto Mayor OLIVIA CHOW has kicked off a game of chicken with Ottawa over property taxes to help close the nearly $1.8-billion budget shortfall facing the 416.
Chow, who is still in her honeymoon phase with voters, is warning that the eye-popping 10.5 per cent tax hike could be even bigger if the feds don’t pony up another $250 million. She’s calling the additional six per cent the “Federal Impacts Levy” in the hopes that cash-strapped voters will blame the potential tax hike on Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU.
It’s a big risk, but the tactic could pay off: Toronto is one of the few remaining Liberal strongholds, and Trudeau will want to maintain support in that key territory. Still, Ottawa hasn’t budged on the city’s repeated asks for more cash, especially when it comes to sheltering refugees and asylum seekers.
