Schreiner calls for major financial relief for municipalities

May 4, 2020

TORONTO — MPP Mike Schreiner sent the following letter to the Premier, asking the province for a Municipal Response Plan to give municipalities urgent financial relief to deal with COVID-19.

QUEEN’S PARK — MPP Mike Schreiner sent the following letter to the Premier, asking the province for a Municipal Response Plan to give municipalities urgent financial relief to deal with COVID-19.

The recommendations include:

1. Restoring the previous funding formula for public health;
2. Providing a $350 million operating grant to cover the operating costs of municipal-run long-term care homes;
3. Restoring provincial funding for community housing;
4. Increasing emergency stabilization funding for shelters, food banks and other non-profits;
5. Fast-tracking funding for already approved infrastructure projects;
6. Creating a multi-billion dollar active transportation fund for municipalities;
7. Restoring the previous funding formula for child care;
8. Funding 50% of local transit operating costs for municipalities;
9. Doubling the municipalities’ share of gas tax funding; and
10. Allowing municipalities to implement new revenue generating tools, including road tolls, parking levies and land value taxation

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