A week after her party formed a majority government, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says one of the first things she’d like to tackle is the issue of municipal taxing powers.

“Now that we are back in government, we need to have that discussion with the municipalities,” she told CTV Toronto’s Paul Bliss.

Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion has been pushing the government to grant municipalities extra taxation powers, saying that property taxes can’t keep up with all the costs of running a town or a city.

Wynne said the matter should be looked at as soon as the legislature reconvenes on July 2.

“Mayor McCallion is not the only mayor who has raised the issue of municipal autonomy, municipal authority … I think it’s something the minister of municipals affairs and housing will need to tackle right away.”

‘Emotional’ return to office

Wynne said stepping back into her office following last week’s election win was “an emotional moment.”

“I was so grateful to be back,” Wynne said. “I’ve been given this opportunity to finish some of the things I began and to move us in the direction I believe we should be going.”

Wynne said her cabinet probably won’t shrink in size, but mentioned she’d like to see other changes made.

“I want to make sure I’ve got people doing the things that they have the best talent for, and that we have some new faces in Cabinet,” she said. “And by that I mean people who haven’t been in Cabinet.”

Wynne also discussed the future of government corporations like the LCBO and OPG. She hired TD Bank Group CEO Ed Clark to advise the government on making the most out of its assets, citing what she considers a mishandling of the Highway 407 by the Conservatives when they were last in power.

“Had the government of the day had this process in place when they were looking at what to do with the 407, my guess is the people of Ontario would have gotten a better deal.”

Wynne said with the examination process just underway, she can’t yet speculate on the fate of government-run businesses. But she does plan on re-introducing the same budget presented in May, which includes investments in infrastructure, transportation and transit.

And despite short-term spending plans, Wynne said she still intends to eliminate the province’s deficit in the next three years.

“We will, as we go through the next few years, will see the changes in government that will allow the savings to take place,” she said.