Guelph mayor won't propose tax levy to deal with city's issues of homelessness, mental health

Guelph Mayor Cam Guthriesays he will not be bringing forward the idea of introducing a tax levy to help deal with homelessness, addiction and mental health in the city when council meets to discuss the budget on Wednesday.

Guthrie proposed the idea of a levy earlier this month and said the province isn't doing enough to financially support municipalities to deal with these growing concerns. Thelevy, dubbed the "provincial impact local levy," would haveamounted to $3 to $5 per month for Guelph residents, he had said.

The levy idea received support fromHelen Fishburn, the CEO of the Canadian Mental Health AssociationWaterloo-Wellington, who called it a "bold and courageous move."

"We really can't afford not to do anything," Fishburn said.

But in a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday, Guthrie said thought it wasn't the right time to bring the levy idea forward.

He said he hadasked the public for feedback and reactionto the idea "was a mixed bag" withnearly an equal number of people who supported the measure and those who told him they can't afford it.

"Based on some of your feedback, and based on some of the changes I'm hearing a little bit from the province in regards to wanting to help municipalities, especially on the housing portion, the fact that I know the premier is wanting to have a meeting really soon with the mayors around this issue, the housing issue, but also the homelessness stuff, I just felt ... on the levy idea, we might be a bit early on this," he said in a video posted to Twitter.

Guthrie says he believes the city can still help with issues surrounding homelessness, addictions and mental health without the levy.

Guelph councillors will meet Wednesday to discuss the budget.