Providing Relief for Municipalities
Additional funding will help Ontario’s municipalities avoid operating deficits in 2021
Our PC government is committed to supporting Ontario’s municipalities as they continue to combat COVID-19.
That’s why we are investing an additional $695 million to provide financial relief for municipalities and help ensure they do not carry budgetary operating deficits into 2021. This builds on the first phase of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement announced this summer and will help municipal partners deliver critical services during COVID-19.
“This joint funding will help Ontario’s municipalities recover from the impacts of COVID-19 faster, by helping them to enter into 2021 without operating deficits from this year,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By ensuring our municipal partners are in a sound financial position to begin the new year, they can focus on keeping their capital projects on track while continuing to provide the critical services their residents rely on.”
All 444 municipalities are receiving new funding to help provide more financial relief, as their 2021 operating budgets are finalized. Additional funding is also being provided to 48 municipalities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 and who have demonstrated a need for additional assistance in covering operating deficits, through an application process.
This support will help municipalities develop 2021 budgets that reflect the reality of COVID-19 in their communities and give them the confidence they need to proceed with capital projects that will help drive economic growth.
Our PC government will continue to work with all levels of government to support our municipalities and leave no community behind as we head into 2021.