Clarington to receive $2.1 million in COVID-19 relief funding from Ontario Government

Clarington August 12, 2020/- The Municipality of Clarington will receive $2.1 million in COVID-19 relief funding from the Provincial Government, as announced by Ontario Premier, Doug Ford Wednesday afternoon.

The one-time assistance comes from $4 billion that was earmarked for Ontario municipalities as part of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement. Ontario municipalities will receive up to $1.6 billion from the first round of emergency funding to ensure critical public services are delivered safely and effectively, while also protecting the health and well-being of the community.

“We thank both the Federal and Provincial Governments for their ongoing leadership and support during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will help us restart our economy and allow us to continue to safely provide vital services to our residents and support our local businesses at a time when it’s needed most,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster. “It’s more important than ever that we work together and emerge stronger from this worldwide pandemic. Today’s announcement will help us continue down the path to economic recovery.”

The money received will be used to offset the costs of personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning, physical alterations and other actions taken to improve physical distancing and reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. The funding will also offset the expected revenue loss from reduced program sizes and physical distancing measures implemented in our recreational programming.

“The COVID-19 relief funding that Clarington receives will help offset the financial impact of adapting to the effects of COVID-19 in our community. While the Municipality has taken steps to reduce costs, as we reopen, there are additional expenses necessary to provide service while ensuring the health and safety of our residents. It will also help mitigate any future tax implications that might have been unavoidable without this funding,” said Director of Finance/Treasurer Trevor Pinn.

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Media Contact:
Leanne Walker
Communications Specialist
905-623-3379 ext. 2217