Toronto Mayor Proposes New Property Taxes to Fund Transit and Housing

The proposal by Mayor John Tory is being hailed as a game changer in Canada's most populous city.

1 minute read

December 6, 2019, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Toronto Streetcar

The City of Toronto / Flickr

Jennifer Pagliaro reports that Toronto Mayor John Tory announced this week a plan "to increase the city building fund, a special levy on property taxes dedicated to transit and housing projects, by eight per cent over the next six years."

"It is the most significant financial move of his mayoralty, five years on, as he comes face-to-face with budget cuts by the province, a difficult 2020 budget process and massive backlogs in TTC and Toronto Community Housing repairs," adds Pagliaro.

According to the article, the proposal has strong support from both critics and supporters of the mayor, and is likely to have strong support in the Toronto City Council.

Pagliaro provides news coverage of the proposal, but The Star's editorial board chimed in quickly on the issue as well, expressing relief that the mayor is acting on a need that has been obvious in the city for years.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019 in The Star

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A swamp in South Carolina with tall pale trees and Spanish moss in the water.

Satanic place names

From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.

October 31 - The Daily Yonder

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight