The mayor of Dryden claims the population of his city is declining.

That’s not because of a loss to southern Ontario, but to surrounding unincorporated areas.

Jack Harrison says they are losing out to lower tax jurisdictions.

“You can see the decline in Dryden as people move out,” Harrison told the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance recently.

“It’s only going to be exacerbated when another mine opens up…like a lithium mine outside (city limits).  We can’t tax it, although they are in our city all the time, using our services.”

Harrison says the reason they are losing residents to the unincorporated area is taxes.

“You go back to the fall population; you’ll actually see the population of the City of Dryden is declining and the unorganized is increasing.  Why would I be paying $8,000 in taxes when I can be paying $1,200, and I’m only a short distance away?”

Harrison says he would like the unincorporated areas to pay their fair share for things like fire service and long-term care, things they don’t pay for right now.