MPP Ernie Hardeman Announces More Financial Relief for Municipalities in Oxford

WOODSTOCK — Today, Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford announced that municipalities in Oxford will receive an additional combined $1,169,000 in Safe Restart Agreement funding. The discretionary funding will be used to offset operating costs for critical services and help ensure that the municipalities do not carry an operating deficit into 2021.

“This funding will provide our community with the support it needs to continue delivering critical services that we all rely on everyday,” said MPP Hardeman. “Today’s announcement will help Oxford County and its municipalities develop a 2021 budget that reflects the reality of COVID-19 and give them the confidence they need to proceed with capital projects that will drive economic growth.”

The Ontario government is allocating an additional $695 million across the province to provide financial relief for municipalities and help ensure they do not carry operating deficits into 2021.This investment builds upon the first phase of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement announced this summer.

“This joint funding will help Ontario’s municipalities recover from the impacts of COVID-19 faster, by helping them to enter into 2021 without operating deficits from this year,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By ensuring our municipal partners are in a sound financial position to begin the new year, they can better focus on keeping their capital projects on track while continuing to provide the critical services their residents rely on.”

Of the $695 million announced today, $299 million is being allocated across all 444 municipalities to help provide more financial relief, as 2021 operating budgets are finalized. An additional $396 million is also being allocated to 48 municipalities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 and who have demonstrated a need for additional assistance in covering their 2020 operating deficits.

In Oxford, the $1,169,000 will be distributed as such:

  • County of Oxford – $584,000
  • Township of Blandford-Blenheim – $36,000
  • Township of East Zorra-Tavistock – $36,000
  • Town of Ingersoll – $67,000
  • Township of Norwich – $49,000
  • Township of South West Oxford – $38,000
  • Town of Tillsonburg – $92,000
  • City of Woodstock – $225,000
  • Township of Zorra – $42,000

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Media inquiries, contact:

MPP Ernie Hardeman

519-537-5222