With pre-budget consultations taking place for the upcoming provincial budget, the priorities for the municipality were talked about at Monday’s Chatham-Kent council meeting.
Councillor Carmen McGregor brought up issues with funding of local public health boards to help with Covid-19 expenses. McGregor said funding is also needed for local skilled trades training to help local businesses which are having a hard time finding workers.
Chief Financial Officer Gord Quinton will make a submission to the province next month. Among his priorities include requesting the province reconsider cost-sharing downloads for child care and public health. Quinton said he will also bring up funding erosion and road alignment repairs along Lake Erie, as well as support from the province for broadband internet investments.
Quinton will also ask for the province’s help in asking the federal government to share sales tax revenue from digital businesses, such as Amazon.
The province plans to bring in a budget by the end of March.