Big city mayors call for increased revenue powers

The mayors of five large Canadian cities are calling for more control over revenue streams, arguing that the fiscal power to serve residents sits with other levels of government.

In an open letter issued Tuesday, the mayors of Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver say cities have to ask permission from the provinces and federal government to increase municipal revenues — for example, by introducing certain toll roads in Toronto.

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"For too long, city governments have been required to rely on property taxes alone to support our growing operating budgets, with dollars stretched thinner and thinner as we serve the growing needs of the public," the letter reads.

"... Across the country, mayors stand ready to ... champion reasonable measures to increase municipal revenues so we can make a positive difference in our residents' lives."

The mayors — Jim Watson, John Tory, Don Iveson, Naheed Nenshi and Gregor Robertson — say they are asking for "the tools to do the job and the accountability that goes with them."

The letter says projects that would be helped by cities having more fiscal powers include:

• In Ottawa, the construction of a subterranean truck tunnel to eliminate heavy truck traffic in the core.
• In Toronto, transit expansion and congestion reduction.
• In Metro Vancouver, transit investments and congestion reduction.