municipalities share $1.6M in Safe Restart Agreement financial relief

MPP Todd Smith

Four municipalities in the Bay of Quinte region will share an additional $1.67 million from the provincial and federal governments to counter deficit impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith announced Safe Restart Agreement Funding will be used to offset operating costs for critical services, and to help ensure municipalities do not carry operating deficits into 2021.

Within the Bay of Quinte riding, Prince Edward County will receive $336,000, Belleville, $575,000, Quinte West, $469,000 and Hastings County $298,000.

“This funding will provide our community with the support it needs to continue delivering critical services that we all rely on every day,” said Smith. “Today’s announcement will help these municipalities develop budgets for 2021 that reflect the reality of COVID-19 and give them the confidence they need to proceed with capital projects that will drive economic growth.”

“Prince Edward County welcomes the continued support of the provincial and federal governments through the Safe Restart Agreement,” said Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson. “Throughout 2020, our municipality strived to remain fiscally responsible, delivering core services that residents and businesses needed, while still completing key capital projects including our largest road rehabilitation program to date. The support announced today will go a long way to offsetting the additional costs and unexpected loss of revenue the County faced in 2020.”

The funds build upon the first phase of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement announced this summer.
In August, an initial investment of $1.6 billion was provided so every Ontario municipality could address their operating pressures, support transit systems and help vulnerable people.

The funding allocations are based on the number of households in a community and the number of COVID-19 cases in an area. 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 being allocated to 48 municipalities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 and who have demonstrated a need for additional assistance in covering 2020 operating deficits.