Sarnia City Hall. (BlackburnNews file photo)Sarnia City Hall. (BlackburnNews file photo)
Sarnia

Sarnia-Lambton municipalities get pandemic relief funding

Sarnia-Lambton municipalities are getting nearly $3.9 million in financial relief from the province, to help shore-up pandemic-related municipal deficits.

The Ford Tories announced $500-million in funding today for all 444 municipalities across Ontario.

The largest share goes to the County of Lambton at just over $1.5-million, while the City of Sarnia receives about $1.3-million.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said city staff will be drafting a report to council with options on what to do with the money.

He said it's an important source of funding to deal help relieve economic pressures caused by the pandemic.

"We're going to need a lot of traction as a city to do the things that we need to do, and that's why it's identified as COVID money," said Bradley. "Council will make the decision on what the use for those funds will be but we have a lot of projects in our ten-year capital plan that could get a significant boost. We can boost them forward so we're doing some injections into the economy as we exit from COVID."

Bradley said the money helps, but says it's never enough.

"We could always use more funds, but this is a significant boost for us in knowing that we do have the support as we move into the post-COVID era (we hope) in 2021 and in 2022," he said. "We also know that there will be businesses that will be struggling and can't continue on. That will have an impact on our income and what we can do as a community."

The province said funding is awarded based on the number of COVID cases in each community between January 1 and February 18 of this year, and on Municipal Property Assessment Corporation household data.

In a news release, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark said the government continues to adapt and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as it evolves.

"Our municipalities have been clear that they need ongoing operating funding in 2021, and it's important that we step up and provide more financial relief," said Clark. "At the same time, we need the federal government to join us and provide our municipal partners with the additional support they deserve." The first installment is expected to arrive on May 1, and the second, on November 1.

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Sarnia--$1,301,071

Lambton County--$1,537,251

Brooke-Alvinston--$44,249

Dawn-Euphemia--$38,715

Enniskillen Township--$47,066

Lambton Shores--$293,329

Oil Springs--$19,229

Petrolia--$96,386

Plympton-Wyoming--$139,073

Point Edward--$41,733

St. Clair Township--$250,680

Warwick Township--$58,637

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