Mayor Roy’s Statement on Ontario’s 2026 Budget and Lack of Funding for Whitby's Key Priorities

Ontario’s 2026 Budget was released today, and while I recognize the complexity of the decisions before the provincial government, I am concerned that Whitby’s key priorities were not reflected. 

Whitby is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Canada, and we are facing significant challenges that were not addressed in this budget.

For example:

• Recent legislative changes have resulted in a funding gap that impacts Whitby’s ability to deliver services and ensure we have the infrastructure to support our growing population. Ontario municipalities face a $4 billion annual shortfall caused by provincial downloading, as well as a $1.5 billion annual burden from social housing costs being placed on municipalities. Council recently supported my motion calling on the province to address the broken provincial-municipal funding system. The Association of Municipalities of Ontario has also consistently called on the province to address this issue. 

• Access to services like a new hospital, is critical to supporting healthcare close to home as Whitby and Durham grow. Nearly two years after the province announced the planning grant for a new hospital in Whitby, the Town continues to do its part to work with partners to acquire the land. Lakeridge Health also continues to advocate for the capital commitment to move the project forward. We are asking the province to prioritize this project and move forward on next steps including project timeline and land, and capital commitments.

Today's budget was an opportunity to demonstrate a stronger commitment to municipal sustainability and partnership.

I will continue to advocate for solutions that ensure Whitby is able to offer a strong quality of life to our residents now and in the future.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Erin Mikaluk
Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913
Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca

Office of the Mayor

Jillian Follert
Public Affairs Coordinator, Office of the Mayor
Phone: 289.314.9101
Email: follertj@whitby.ca