Ontario announces emergency funds for municipalities

The Ontario government and its federal counterpart is providing municipalities with up to $1.6 billion in emergency funding.

The money is the first round of cash slated to help municipalities under the “Safe Re-start Agreement” and will begin to flow in the fall.

Of those funds, $695 million will help operating pressures related to the COVID-19 pandemic and over $660 million will support transit systems.

There’s an additional $212 million through the Social Services Relief Fund to help vulnerable people find shelter.

Each municipality will get its own chunk of the money.

Hamilton — approximately $45 million

Burlington — approximately $6 million

Oakville — approximately $7 million

Brantford — approximately $6.3 million

Norfolk County — approximately $3.6 million

Haldimand County — approximately $2.5 million

Niagara Falls — approximately $4.2 million

St. Catharines — approximately $7.5 million

Welland — approximately $2 million

Grimsby — approximately $682,000

Lincoln — approximately $580,000

West Lincoln — approximately $330,000

Niagara-on-the-Lake — approximately $562,000