County gains $1.6M to address municipal COVID-19 costs

Municipalities within Bay of Quinte will see $9,492,162 in funding to address costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the first round of emergency funding under the Safe Restart Agreement.

Prince Edward County will receive $1,676,500, and an additional $22,315 to support transit operations, from the provincial and federal governments.

Ontario secured up to $4 billion in emergency assistance for the province’s 444 municipalities through the Safe Restart Agreement.

“This funding will ease additional pressures municipalities in our region and across Ontario are facing to deliver vital public services and encourage recovery, while protecting the health and well-being of their residents. This is great news for the people of Bay of Quinte,” said Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith.

Belleville receives $2,870,200 and an additional $903,985 to support transit operations.
The County of Hastings received $1,485,400, and Quinte West, $2,341,000 and an additional $102,762 to support transit operations.

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 50/50 between upper- and lower-tier municipalities.

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

The government is also sharing out 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 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.