Funding will help ensure local government avoids operating deficits in 2021
KENORA–RAINY RIVER — yesterday, Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora–Rainy River announced that municipalities in the riding will receive a total of $670,000 in additional Safe Restart Agreement funding. The discretionary funding will be used to offset operating costs for critical services and help ensure that municipalities in Kenora –Rainy River do not carry operating deficits into 2021. The following municipalities will be receiving funding:
- Township of Alberton – $25,000
- Township of Chapple – $25,000
- Township of Dawson – $24,000
- City of Dryden – $87,000
- Township of Emo – $28,000
- Town of Fort Frances – $93,000
- Township of Ignace – $31,000
- City of Kenora – $183,000
- Township of Lake of the Woods – $29,000
- Township of La Vallee – $26,000
- Township of Morley – $24,000
- Town of Rainy River – $26,000
- Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls – $39,000
- Municipality of Machin – $30,000
“This funding will provide our community with the support it needs to continue delivering critical services that we all rely on everyday,” said MPP Rickford. “Today’s announcement will help the municipalities of Kenora–Rainy River develop a 2021 budget that reflects the reality of COVID-19 and give them the confidence they need to proceed with capital projects that will drive economic growth.”
The Ontario government is allocating an additional $695 million across the province to provide financial relief for municipalities and help ensure they do not carry operating deficits into 2021.This investment builds upon the first phase of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement announced this summer.
“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, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By ensuring our municipal partners are in a sound financial position to begin the new year, they can better focus on keeping their capital projects on track while continuing to provide the critical services their residents rely on.”
Of the $695 million announced today, $299 million is being allocated across all 444 municipalities to help provide more financial relief, as 2021 operating budgets are finalized. An additional $396 million is also being allocated to 48 municipalities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 and who have demonstrated a need for additional assistance in covering their 2020 operating deficits.
