Communities Across Oxford County To Receive Emergency Funding Amid COVID-19

Thursday, 13 August 2020 10:28

Woodstock will be one of the eight communities in Oxford County who will receive emergency funding to address municipal operating pressures during COVID-19 through the Safe Restart Agreement.

WOODSTOCK – Eight communities across Oxford County will receive emergency funding during COVID-19.

These communities will receive emergency funding from the provincial and federal government 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.

Woodstock will be awarded $1,121,900 and an additional $366,377 to support transit operations for a total of $1,488,277.

$461,700, with an additional $20,824 for transit operations, will go to Tillsonburg for $482,524 overall. Ingersoll will receive $334,000 and an additional $18,963 for transit operations, for a total of $352,963.

Norwich will be awarded $245,300, Zorra Township will receive $207,300, South-West Oxford will receive $189,500 and Blandford-Blenheim and East Zorra-Tavistock will be awarded $179,000 each.

MPP for Oxford Ernie Hardeman says each community will benefit from the emergency funding.

“Under the Safe Restart Agreement, our government is investing in Ontario’s municipalities at this critical time. This funding will help every single municipality in Oxford better support and protect our communities and residents as we all work together towards a strong recovery from COVID-19.”

Ontario’s 444 municipalities will receive $695 million in Phase 1 funding for municipal operating pressures in September. This funding will be given on a household basis and shared 50/50 between upper- and lower-tier municipalities. Up to $695 million in additional funding will be available through Phase 2 for municipalities that have been impacted financially by COVID-19 that exceed the initial per household allocation provided under Phase 1.

Through the Safe Restart Agreement, the Province secured up to $4 billion in emergency assistance for municipalities, giving them the support and flexibility they need to protect the health and well-being of their communities, while continuing to deliver critical public services Ontario continues on the path of renewal, growth and economic recovery.

In addition to the support for municipalities, more than $660 million will be provided by the government in the first phase of transit funding to the 110 municipalities with transit systems. The money 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 make sure 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.