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Parking levy among new taxes city staff asked to consider to shore up finances


Mayor John Tory is opening the door to imposing new taxes that would help Toronto shore up its shaky finances, including a levy on parking spaces.

In a motion submitted to next week’s council agenda, Tory asks city staff to review options Toronto has to raise revenue under current provincial legislation. The motion, which was seconded by Coun. Chris Moise (Ward 13, Toronto Centre), specifically asks for a study of a potential parking levy, including how it could be used to fund transit infrastructure and its impact on businesses.

“It is time for a new fiscal deal for cities. This discussion, which must be had with the government of Canada and the government of Ontario, has to be informed by up-to-date information on the revenue tools that we have available,” said Tory in a statement.

“As we move forward, it’s important to consider all available tools in the context of feasibility, alignment with council directed policy objectives, and how such tools do or do not address substantial budgetary pressures faced by the city.”

The provincial City of Toronto Act sets out which taxes the municipality is able to impose. They include ones the city already levies like the property tax and land transfer tax, as well as options it hasn’t made use of, like taxes on alcohol and tobacco. Other revenue streams, like giving the city a cut of the provincial sales tax, would require major legislative change.

Tory’s motion asks staff to report back on how much each revenue option available under the Act would generate, how much they would cost to administer, how they align with city policy goals, and other details.

The motion asks for additional information about a potential parking levy, including estimates of the number of commercial, paid and unpaid parking spaces, broken down by ward; the feasibility of excluding commercial and other types of parking spaces from the tax; a graduated fee system based on spaces’ proximity to transit; a downtown only levy; and an analysis of how the measure “may support or hinder Toronto’s COVID-19 economic recovery.”

The motion requests staff report back to council by the third quarter of this year.

“Now, more than ever, we need more tools or streams available to generate revenue so we can protect and invest further in the programs and areas our residents rely on — from housing to transit to critical infrastructure and community programs,” said Moise.

Council previously ordered a study of revenue options in 2016, during Tory’s first term. At the time a majority of members backed the mayor’s push to impose road tolls on municipal expressways, but the Ontario Liberal government of the day quashed the move.

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr

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