AMO will be reviewing the legislation in greater detail over the coming weeks in order to meet with the Province and to convince them to exempt municipalities from this legislation in light of the other activities underway. Members are encouraged to review the legislation and to raise concerns with their MPPs. We believe it fails to recognize the direct accountability and fiscal responsibility of the municipal sector that is enshrined in law. Further, it duplicates efforts that are well under way between the Province and municipalities, to demonstrate progress through performance. The proposed legislation contains a number of useful accountability measures for the public sector that are appropriate for those institutions that are not directly accountable to the public.
Local government is an entirely different form of public institution.
Direct accountability to the electorate and conservative financing practices are hallmarks of the municipal sector, which have been demonstrated in practice throughout its long history. As you know, all Council decisions must be made in public and the consultation processes are set in various statutes. And municipalities are prohibited from deficit financing, again, by law. It therefore came as a considerable surprise to learn that Bill 46, which appears to be intended for unaccountable public sector institutions, would also apply to local government. It would see an end to inter-governmental squabbling and permit local government to better serve its constituents.