Wynne to Merulla: Uploading has saved Hamilton millions

The premiers office has countered a claim from a Hamilton councillor that Kathleen Wynne is a liar by saying that its proud of its record of supporting cities, and that the premier would like to spend more time in Hamilton.

Coun. Sam Merulla was referring to Wynnes comment that municipalities have extra cash after the province uploaded some social services, saying at Wednesday's council meeting that she was either being dishonest or wilfully stupid.

Wynnes office told CBC Hamilton on Thursday that the Liberals have been good to Hamilton property taxpayers.

Wed like to remind Coun. Merulla of the ongoing support the Liberal government has provided to the City of Hamilton, spokesperson Kelly Baker said in an email.

After years of services being downloaded to municipal taxpayers, the email read, Wynnes government is uploading some of them namely Ontario Works (OW), the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and the Ontario Drug Benefits Program (ODB).

That will provide Hamilton with $84.6 million in benefits this year alone, the email said.

• Related:Merulla calls Premier Wynne 'a liar' for comments on uploading

Wynne is open to discussing the issues that matter to local communities, Baker wrote, and she looks forward to spending more time in the Hamilton region over the coming months.

The figure cited by the province is a big difference from what city numbers show, said Merulla, who represents Ward 4. The discrepancy is "bizarre" and "remarkably disconcerting," he said.

"Frankly, if there's this much of a discrepancy, perhaps she should come into town,"Merullasaid. "I invite her to a round table discussion with city bureaucrats to reach some sort of understanding of why theres such a discrepancy."

Since 2004, the email said, provincial assistance to Hamilton has increased by about 250 per cent, so the city can reinvest property tax dollars in local projects like transit, infrastructure and affordable housing.

Downloading has been an issue in the late 1990s, when the province downloaded services such as social assistance, land ambulance and social housing to municipalities. From 2008 to 2018, Ontario isuploading the cost of three of those services OW, ODSP and ODB back to the provincial level. But services such as ambulance and social housing remain on the local property tax bill.

Uploading has also meant a loss of provincial grants to administer OW, ODSP and ODB, said finance head Mike Zegarac on Wednesday. So in reality, local taxpayers have only saved $11.8 million since 2009.

The province isn't doing the city justice unless it uploads provincially regulated services such as ambulance, social housing and the remainder of social service costs, Merullasaid. Thosecost Hamilton $120 million per year, or 20 per cent of the property tax bill.

"The fact is that 20 per cent of the city of Hamilton operating budget is due to provincial responsibilities," he said.

The city hopes to draw attention to this issue and others at a Hamilton Day at Queens Park in November. Council voted at Wednesdays council meeting to hold Hamilton Day, the same conversation where Merulla made his remarks.