More than $4.8 million announced by Scott for Kawartha Lakes’ pandemic support

Today, MPP Laurie Scott announced more than $4.8 million dollars in provincial assistance for Kawartha Lakes in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.

“This is new money for our communities that will provide municipalities with the support they need to protect the health and well-being of Ontario residents,” said Scott in a media release.

“This assistance will continue to deliver needed public services as the province continues down the path of renewal, growth and economic recovery.”

The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, is providing urgently needed emergency assistance to Ontario’s 444 municipalities. The money is to address municipal operating pressures related to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the first round of emergency funding under the Safe Restart Agreement.

Ontario secured up to $4 billion in emergency assistance for municipalities through the Safe Restart Agreement to spark renewal, growth and economic recovery due to the pandemic.

In September, Ontario’s 444 municipalities will receive $695 million in Phase 1 funding for municipal operating pressures. This funding will be allocated on a per household basis and would be shared equally between upper and lower-tier municipalities.

Up to $695 million in additional funding will be available through Phase 2 for municipalities that have COVID-related financial impacts that exceed the initial per household allocation provided
under Phase 1. Phase 2 funding will be application based.

Transit support

In addition to the support for municipalities, the government is providing over $660 million in the first phase of transit funding to the 110 municipalities with transit systems. The funding can be used 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.

In the second phase, additional allocations will be provided based on expenses incurred to ensure the funding meets the needs of municipalities. As part of the Safe Restart Agreement with the federal government, up to $2 billion is being provided to support public transit in Ontario.

The government is committed to working in partnership with municipalities to ensure they can emerge stronger than ever and help lead Ontario’s economic recovery.

QUICK FACTS
 The federal Safe Restart Agreement provides $19 billion to Canadian provinces and territories to help ensure a strong recovery and support frontline health care, families, and communities. Across all streams of federal investment, the Safe Restart Agreement provides over $7 billion in funding and in-kind supports to Ontario.
 The agreement provides up to a total of $4 billion in funding to the province’s 444 municipalities.
 The province is making a contribution of 50 per cent to the municipal supports and transit funding available through the Safe Restart Agreement, with the federal government contributing the other 50 per cent.
 Ontario is also providing municipal service managers and Indigenous housing partners an additional $212 million under the Social Services Relief Fund to help protect vulnerable people from COVID-19. This investment can help them protect homeless shelter staff and residents, expand rent support programming and create longer-term housing solutions. This brings the government’s total Social Services Relief Fund investment provided to service managers and Indigenous program administrators to $510 million, and builds on our COVID19 Action Plan to Protect Vulnerable Ontarians.