Area communities will receive a total of $452,000 in Safe Restart Agreement discretionary funding to offset operating costs for critical services and help ensure that municipalities do not carry an operating deficit into 2021.
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli made the announcement today.
"This funding will provide our communities with the support they need to continue delivering critical services that we all rely on every day," says Fedeli. "Today’s announcement will help the municipalities in Nipissing 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."
A funding breakdown of Phase 2 allocations by municipality:
- North Bay: $250,000
- Bonfield: $20,000
- Callander: $20,000
- Calvin: $20,000
- Chisholm: $20,000
- East Ferris: $22,000
- Mattawa: $20,000
- Mattawan: $20,000
- Nipissing: $20,000
- Papineau-Cameron: $20,000
- Powassan: $20,000
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.
In September, Ontario’s 444 municipalities received $695 million in Phase 1 funding for municipal operating pressures. The funding was allocated on a per household basis and was shared 50/50 between upper- and lower-tier municipalities.
See related story: City gets over $4 million in emergency COVID relief
In addition, the government has provided over $660 million in the first phase of transit funding to the 110 municipalities with transit systems. The funding was designed to provide immediate relief from transit pressures, such as lower ridership, as well as for new costs due to COVID-19, such as enhanced cleaning and masks for staff.
