Nigerian Delegates Attend Canadian Municipal Government Program in Toronto

TORONTO – Last week, forty-two municipal officials from across Nigeria were in Toronto attending an informational course highlighting the municipal taxation system in Canada.

The program, a joint venture between Canadian firms GTA Strategies and OZ Consulting, was created to act as an introduction to how municipalities in Canada collect and distribute tax funds to maintain infrastructure. The three-day course included seminars and roundtable discussions covering a variety of subjects, including the organization of city governance, emergency services, public transportation, property assessment and tax levies, and the city’s capital budget.

“This is the third time we’ve run this program, with over a hundred attendees, and I honestly think it’s getting better each time”, commented Hon. Jim Karygiannis, former Toronto city councillor and principal of GTA Strategies. “Within just a few days, we are able to give these delegates an in-depth look at how our revenue system works.” OZ Consulting president Abi Goodman added, “we have had nothing but positive feedback from the delegates who have attended – they really appreciate the amount of information we provide.”

The conference was also attended by more than a dozen delegates’ spouses, who attended a seminar on the topics of empowerment and furthering women’s rights and involvement in local government.

In addition to the training sessions, attendees visited Toronto City Hall and the 311 Operations Centre, toured the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus and the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades, and visited historic Niagara Falls.