“The only revenue sources for a Canadian municipality are property tax and fees for certain services.”
I’m from Vancouver BC., one of the most draconian-ruled cities in the North. I find your statement perplexing..
What is perplexing? Cities like Toronto and Vancouver can do all sorts of mischief with zoning, public housing, and lax policing practices. But there would do much more evil if they had the power to tax income and sales, and fix wage rates. Canadian municipalities exist only through provincial legislation, and their powers can be curtailed if necessary (for example, the Ontario government’s slashing of the number it Toronto city councillors). Our system is not perfect, but it could be much worse.