So a Toronto resident is paying a whopping $100 less than in Mississauga. Why? We have to look at the budgets of Toronto vs Misssissuaga/Peel. Are we getting different services?
Based entirely on an assumption that the Toronto resident will be moving in 10 years. Stats show that by the time most people are in homeownership stage, they'll be moving less than that. And if the LTT revenue tells us anything, it's that 10% of homes are being turned over in the city annually.
Every city in the GTA has a library system. Sorry we aren't different. I don't care if there are 2 libraries in a municipality or 200. Residents mainly care about their neighborhood library only. If I live in Courtice (35,000 people) I have a library open 7 days a week and open to 9pm every week night. If I live in Rexdale I have a library only open 5 days a week (apparently no one wants to read on a Sunday or Monday) and only open 2 days after regular working hours (employed people also don't like to read I guess). I'd rather have it open when I'm off work!
You clearly haven't used TPL to its fullest extent, if you think simply having a presence is all they are useful for. Libraries benefit from scale. The collections grow. At the scale that TPL, they have collections that other public libraries can only dream off.
TPL also provides things like e-book borrowing and passes for Toronto's attractions like the zoo. Just check out how the much the zoo would cost for the average family.
City programs...all cities subsidize the recreation expecting you to pay 1/3 to 1/2 of the costs. Checking online swimming lessons are comparable in various cities.
Again. Do you ever use any services in Toronto? Toronto Parks and Rec has the most comprehensive set of offerings I've ever seen. And I've lived in 4 of the largest provinces of this country. It betrays quite some ignorance if you think it's only about swimming lessons.
School programs. Imagine that outside of Toronto there a also specialty programs!
There really aren't as many specialty offerings in other school boards. Again, size has its advantages. And in this case, the ability to offer a diverse set of specializations:
http://www.tdsb.on.ca/AboutUs/Innovation/HighSchoolSpecializedPrograms.aspx
Even the Catholic board in Toronto offers excellent AP classes and IB programs. Meanwhile, in York region, their solution for High Performance Athletes? Treat them as Co-op students.
Finally, if people really don't think there's benefit to living in the 416, why are they here? The City should charge more. And those who value living in the City will stay. The rest will choose the 905.