I'm sure many of you on here are familiar with the former Metro Toronto. One of the main rationales behind its creation was the understanding that there were certain issues (transportation & transit, regional planning, etc) that extended beyond the borders of the existing municipalities, and that these problems couldn't be adequately solved in isolation.
When Metro was formed in 1954, it comprised the vast majority of the residents in the GTA, with only a small fraction of them lying outside its boundaries. By and large, it was representative of the entire GTA. However, with the rapid expansion of the 905, Metro no longer represented all of, or even the significant majority of, the Greater Toronto Metropolitan area. The issues it was designed to solve, it could no longer adequately solve, and it was eventually amalgamated into the current City of Toronto.
Again today, the GTHA is facing a similar problem to what it faced in the early 1950s: too many municipalities, not enough central control over the "big picture" issues. Is recreating a "Metro" type of government the answer? Personally, I think it is.
The work that the Province has done with the Places to Grow Act, the Greenbelt Act, and the Big Move are good building blocks, but implementation is dependent on the municipalities, and they are complying to varying degrees (to put it nicely). A new Metro government would be able to better implement those plans, and with new taxation powers (as well as shifting taxation from lower/upper tier municipalities to Metro) would be able to implement those plans with greater financial independence from the Province.
What I envision the new Metro being responsible for are things like regional roads (basically former King's Highways before the late 90s downloading, as well as major regional roads), mass transit (consolidated entirely under Metrolinx), major infrastructure projects, social housing and homeless shelters, and possibly planning departments. Basically any type of service that impacts the region as a whole.
These items would be lifted off the books of the municipalities, and onto Metro's books, with an equivalent shift in taxation amounts. Metro would also be given the authority to impose things like a sales tax, a vehicle registration tax, road tolls, etc.
In terms of structure, what I would like to see is the individual municipal councils elect from their own membership a certain amount of representatives to sit on Metro Council (number of reps TBD based on population). I figure doing an election from council members ensures that the will of the majority from various councils is represented.
Thoughts?
When Metro was formed in 1954, it comprised the vast majority of the residents in the GTA, with only a small fraction of them lying outside its boundaries. By and large, it was representative of the entire GTA. However, with the rapid expansion of the 905, Metro no longer represented all of, or even the significant majority of, the Greater Toronto Metropolitan area. The issues it was designed to solve, it could no longer adequately solve, and it was eventually amalgamated into the current City of Toronto.
Again today, the GTHA is facing a similar problem to what it faced in the early 1950s: too many municipalities, not enough central control over the "big picture" issues. Is recreating a "Metro" type of government the answer? Personally, I think it is.
The work that the Province has done with the Places to Grow Act, the Greenbelt Act, and the Big Move are good building blocks, but implementation is dependent on the municipalities, and they are complying to varying degrees (to put it nicely). A new Metro government would be able to better implement those plans, and with new taxation powers (as well as shifting taxation from lower/upper tier municipalities to Metro) would be able to implement those plans with greater financial independence from the Province.
What I envision the new Metro being responsible for are things like regional roads (basically former King's Highways before the late 90s downloading, as well as major regional roads), mass transit (consolidated entirely under Metrolinx), major infrastructure projects, social housing and homeless shelters, and possibly planning departments. Basically any type of service that impacts the region as a whole.
These items would be lifted off the books of the municipalities, and onto Metro's books, with an equivalent shift in taxation amounts. Metro would also be given the authority to impose things like a sales tax, a vehicle registration tax, road tolls, etc.
In terms of structure, what I would like to see is the individual municipal councils elect from their own membership a certain amount of representatives to sit on Metro Council (number of reps TBD based on population). I figure doing an election from council members ensures that the will of the majority from various councils is represented.
Thoughts?