POLL: Newmarket supportive of tax increase dedicated to homelessness

'I was happy to see such a large number of people who realize we live in very difficult times,' says Newmarket mayor, who is supportive of the additional tax for community investment fund

Newmarkettoday.ca
Feb. 22, 2023
Joseph Quigley

Newmarket residents are indicating some support for a proposal by the Regional Municipality of York for a one per cent tax increase to help homelessness and other social causes, according to a NewmarketToday poll.

York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson put the idea forth during budget talks last week, which would raise $13 million for the region's community investment fund. Staff is to bring back a report this week on how those extra dollars would specifically get used, at which point the council will decide on the idea.

Regional taxpayers are already facing a possible 3.9 per cent tax rate increase. NewmarketToday wanted to know what our readers thought about the proposed extra increase. We polled NewmarketToday.ca readers with this question: Would you support a 1 per cent York Region tax increase ($25 on the average home) dedicated to helping the homeless and social infrastructure?

More than half of he local respondents, approximately 57 per cent, indicated a measure of support for the idea, with 47.4 per cent supportive of the increase and 9.6 per cent indicating they would be willing to pay an even bigger tax increase for the causes. But about 41 per cent said they would be opposed to the increase, with 26 per cent saying the region could address needs without more taxation.

The poll ran Feb. 15 to 19. Of the 585 votes, we can determine that 384 are from within the community. The full results are as follows:

Yes, we need to do more to address homelessness and add affordable housing. 47.40 % local, 44.62 % total
Yes, but I think the increase should be even more to address these issues. 9.64 % local, 10.60 % total
No, taxes are already increasing a lot and we cannot afford this right now. 16.15 % local, 16.41 % total
No, I believe the region can address these issues without increased taxation. 26.04 % local, 27.35 % total
I am indifferent on the topic. 0.52 % local, 1.03 % total

Results are based on an online study of adult NewmarketToday.ca readers that are located in Newmarket. The margin of error - which measures sample variability - is +/- 4.04%, 19 times out of 20. NewmarketToday.ca uses a variety of techniques to capture data, detect and prevent fraudulent votes, detect and prevent robots, and filter out non-local and duplicate votes.

Newmarket Mayor John Taylor is planning to support the tax proposal and said he pitched the idea for several years. He said the poll results could shift depending on the framing of the question and the poll shows somewhat of a split.

“It indicates a mix of opinion like we get on a lot of tax-related issues,” Taylor said, adding it is valid to be concerned about the high taxes. “Having said that, I was happy to see such a large number of people who realize we live in very difficult times. We’re seeing more people experiencing homelessness, more people experiencing mental health challenges than ever before.”

The tax increase would go toward the region's community investment fund, which funds initiatives for non-profits addressing service gaps. Previously funded organizations have included the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Community Legal Clinic of York Region, and the Housing Help Centre. More specifics are to come on where the tax increase could go, but Emmerson emphasized homelessness in raising the idea.

Taylor said that with a recent court ruling that could mean municipalities cannot remove encampments without adequate shelters, municipalities have to invest more in social causes.

He said he is optimistic that it could get passed at the regional council level.

“There’s a significant growth, a significant increase in people’s understanding, including elected officials’ understanding, about the importance of investing in housing, in homelessness, in mental health,” Taylor said. “These are areas of fundamental need.”