COVID-19 | November 4, 2020
Today, Council approved Mississauga’s submission to the Government of Ontario for Phase 2 of the Safe Restart Agreement Funding to help meet municipal operating shortfalls as a result of COVID-19 pressures.
“We are grateful for the initial funding from Phase 1 of the Safe Restart Agreement Funding. That was a step in the right direction,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “We have reviewed our shortfall and the projected pressures we continue to face during this pandemic. As a result, we are requesting additional funding as offered by the Province, to meet our City’s operating needs. We are committed to our recovery efforts and diligently doing our homework to ensure Mississauga receives its fair share in funding.”
The City of Mississauga received $46.1 million in Phase 1 Safe Restart Agreement funding: $15 million through the municipal relief stream and $31 million through the transit relief stream.
“We are grateful to both the federal and provincial governments for their COVID-19 relief funding and welcome the opportunity for further assistance going forward. The $46 million goes a long way to offset our deficit and our anticipated expenses to December 31, 2020. We do not know with precision what November or December will bring in terms of positive or negative financial performance. In the meantime, staff continue to look for ways to help the City financially, including working diligently to secure funding from other levels of government through these types of programs. It is part of our ongoing actions to prepare for the 2021 budget.”
Safe Restart Agreement Funding
Through the Safe Restart Agreement the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario will provide $4 billion to help Ontario municipalities relieve financial pressures created by COVID-19 and to keep transit systems running through municipal and transit relief streams. Through the Safe Restart Agreement with the federal government, $695 million will help municipalities address operating pressures related to the COVID-19 pandemic through the first round of emergency funding, and over $660 million will support transit systems. Up to $695 million in additional operating funding will be available through Phase 2 to eligible municipalities after they have provided the province with information on their estimated COVID-19- related financial pressures.
For the latest updates on the City of Mississauga’s COVID-19 recovery and response visit: mississauga.ca/recovery.
Media Contact:
City of Mississauga Media Relations
media@mississauga.ca
905-615-3200, ext. 5232
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