The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Toronto Mayor John Tory to reverse his proposal to raise property taxes by 4.4 per cent as Torontonians face soaring inflation and financial challenges in dealing with the pandemic.

“The absolute last thing Torontonians need is a massive property tax hike,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “Tory and city councillors should be looking for ways to save money, not to make taxpayers’ financial hardship even worse.”

More than half of Canadians say they are just $200 away from not being able to pay their bills. On average, Toronto homeowners will be forced to pay $141 more annually if Tory’s proposed tax hike goes ahead.

“Instead of going after hardworking taxpayers, the city should look at getting control over government employees’ salaries,” said Goldberg. “The city has been giving raises to 99 per cent of its employees, even in the middle of the pandemic.

“If Tory thinks that taxpayers are going to support a massive tax increase while everyone at city hall gets a pay hike, he’s simply out of touch with the real world. Tory should be looking to close his budget gap through spending restraint, not tax hikes.”