Ontario’s mayors, including Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff, are joining a national call to action to help support communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of a campaign by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Ontario’s mayors and regional chairs are asking for financial support from upper levels of government to help deal with the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.
The ask is $10-billion nationally, $4-billion of which would be ear-marked for Ontario, to help offset lost revenues and service costs.
However, officials say so far, there has been no clear signal on the timing and level of a joint federal-provincial financial assistance program.
The municipal leaders say the lack of funding could affect support to children, families, and seniors, transit services, and a possible reduction of essential services, among other things.
