Aurora and Newmarket receive more than $1.3M to help during pandemic

Funding helps municipalities avoid deficits in 2021

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 21, 2020
Lisa Queen

Aurora and Newmarket are receiving more than $1.3 million in additional government COVID-19 relief funding.

The Safe Restart Agreement funding is aimed at ensuring local governments continue to provide services and avoid operating deficits in 2021.

Aurora is getting $549,000, while Newmarket is receiving $769,000, Newmarket-Aurora MPP Christine Elliott and Aurora--Oak Ridges--Richmond Hill MPP Michael Parsa announced.

Meanwhile, the Region of York has been allocated more than $9.9 million under the fund.

“This funding will provide our communities with the support they need to continue delivering critical services that we all rely on every day,” Elliott said in a statement.

“(This) announcement will help Aurora, Newmarket and York Region develop 2021 budgets 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 funding will help municipalities start the new year on sound fiscal standing, Parsa said.

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.