The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, MPP
Premier of Ontario
Email: premier@ontario.ca
The Honourable Yasir Naqvi, MPP
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Email: ynaqvi.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Re: Proposed OPP Billing Model
Dear Premier Wynne and Minister Naqvi,
As a business owner in Haliburton County, I was shocked to hear that municipalities across Ontario are
being unfairly burdened with significant increases to the cost of critical OPP services.
In Haliburton County, the cost for OPP services will likely increase by $5 million, more than double the
cost of the current model without any increase in the level of service. Our local municipalities will have
to raise taxes by 20% - 36% in order to pay for the new billing model. This new proposed model will
make my business less viable and will make life far less affordable for myself, my family and my
neighbours.
Families and businesses in Haliburton County are already falling behind. With a 9% unemployment rate
across the Muskoka-Kawartha Economic Region in 2012 and a high number of people who are only
seasonally employed in Haliburton County, my livelihood already faces significant challenges.
Given the large number of low- or fixed-income year-round residents in Haliburton County, with little to
no disposable income, my ability to off-set a tax increase with a growth in revenue is very limited. I will
have to divert resources from job creation towards paying for this increase in costs.
Your government has committed to ensuring a more prosperous and fair Ontario. The health of my
small business and my neighbours’ small business is critical to the success of the Ontario economy, and I
will not be able to invest in the growth of my business if I am burdened with yet another tax increase.
A fair Ontario is important to me, and it is unfair that some municipalities will be greatly burdened by
increased costs while others will see their costs decrease significantly. In particular, municipalities with
high numbers of low-income and seasonally-employed residents shouldn’t have to pay the price on their
own.
Will you follow-through on your commitment to building a better province and commit to re-negotiating
the proposed OPP billing model?
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
<Your Name>
<Your Business Name>
<Your Address with Postal Code>
<Optional: Your Phone Number>