Premier and Ministers Meet Hundreds of Local Officials in Ottawa
“As the level of government closest to the people, municipalities know best how to meet the needs of their communities,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Our government will continue to provide supports to help municipalities modernize service delivery and find savings, while working in partnership on our shared priorities. Together, we can help communities across the province grow and prosper.”
At the conference, Premier Ford announced the government will provide municipalities with:
- Transitional funding for public health and childcare;
- An increase in funding by an average of nearly four per cent for land ambulance services for 2019 and an increase in 2020;
- The current structure of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), the province’s main assistance grant to municipalities, which will be maintained for 2020;
- $200 million to help 405 small and rural municipalities modernize service delivery;
- Over $7 million to help large municipalities and school boards conduct line-by-line reviews to help find savings; and
- Important infrastructure such as community centres, sports arenas and cultural centres by opening applications for funding starting September 3, 2019 as part of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, which could unlock up to $1 billion in funding.
“We welcome the Ontario government’s commitment to work with municipal governments and AMO,” said Jamie McGarvey, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. “As frontline service providers, municipal expertise and experience is essential if we want to achieve solutions to our shared challenges. After all, we serve the same people, taxpayers and communities.”
The government will continue working with AMO and its members to modernize service delivery, reduce the province’s debt burden and improve the quality of life for people across Ontario.
Quick Facts
- Ontario’s 10-year, $144-billion strategic infrastructure capital plan includes over $90 billion for public transit and provincial highways over the next decade.
- The government is investing $315 million to expand broadband and cellphone connectivity in rural and remote communities to help people get connected and open Ontario for business and jobs.
- The government will provide the remaining $6.74 million to municipalities to help with cannabis legalization costs. The government is also investing $3.26 million to support municipalities with enhanced enforcement.
- To date, the government has identified 94 provincial reporting requirements for elimination and is simplifying or consolidating 27 others. This will allow municipalities to focus on the things that matter most — the frontline services people rely on every day.
- The Ontario government signed a joint memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AMO in August 2018.
- Under the MOU, the government has held 11 meetings with AMO since August 2018 to discuss shared priorities.
- Up to 1,800 municipal officials attend the AMO conference annually.
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