Of the many issues being raised in Toronto’s mayoral race, and one of the most important, is about accountability and transparency around spending at city hall.
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one → raise → hall
Brad Bradford has a plan to review the city’s $20 billion budget with a view to ensuring residents get value for the money they pay to the city.
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they → have → city
One of his proposals is to create a public utility for water in the same way that we have a public utility for electricity — a proposal that’s garnered significant interest from residents across the city.
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that → create → city
Water bills are more expensive than they need to be, especially at a time when affordability is a key issue for families.
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affordability → need → families
Since I was a city councillor, I served from 2003 to 2014, Toronto households have seen their water bills go up far faster than the rate of inflation.
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bills → serve → inflation
In 2009, the average Toronto household was charged $637 and now the average household pays $1,118 per year.
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household → charge → year
The city’s own 2026 water budget says 67 cents of every dollar on that bill doesn’t even go to delivering water — it goes into a capital reserve.
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it → say → reserve
Bradford wants to bring accountability and transparency to the city and he is starting with the water department.
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he → want → department
Governments should never take more than they need from the people who pay taxes, especially now when cost of living pressures are affecting almost everyone across the city.
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pressures → take → city
Overcharging for it needs to stop.
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Overcharging → overcharge → it
And that starts with creating a public utility to deliver water.
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that → start → water
Although the idea of creating a public utility for water is new to Toronto, it is hardly novel.
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it → create → Toronto
Municipalities across Ontario have already taken this step.
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Municipalities → take → step
The critics, including former Mayor David Miller, will tell you that it is the first step toward privatization but it is not.
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it → include → privatization
Bradford will ensure the corporation’s bylaws bars private investment.
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bylaws → ensure → investment
The provincial law itself was strengthened this May so that shares in a municipal water corporation can only be held by a municipality, the Province, the Government of Canada or an agent of one of them.
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shares → strengthen → them
Private ownership is expressly prohibited in the statute.
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ownership → prohibit → statute
So, the questions become: how much money does Toronto Water need in order to deliver services in the city?
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Water → become → city
Is it reasonable for utilities to have massive capital reserves that can’t even be spent for another 20 years?
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that → have → years
Is it fair that water users now must pay for water users in the future?
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users → pay → future
Those are the questions that need answering, that need transparency.
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that → need → transparency
If there was a public utility for water, the corporation would have to explain how much is necessary to ensure the water infrastructure is in a state of good repair as well as what is needed to plan for future capital expenditures.
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what → be → expenditures
On rates, Toronto Hydro’s are approved by a provincial regulator, and nobody says that Toronto Hydro is out of the City’s control.
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Hydro → approve → control
Under Bradford’s plan, an independent board appointed by Council would set rates within Council’s guidance to ensure water is delivered safely, both now and in the future.
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water → appoint → future
Without the overcharge, homeowners can expect a 25 per cent cut on the first $1,500 of every bill.
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homeowners → expect → bill
That’s about $300 a year for the average household, automatically.
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That → ’ → household
What there will be is accountability for water rates, catching up to other municipalities in the management of water and infrastructure, and the assurance that water users will not be overcharged.
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users → catch → water
The Aporia
