Are you a Newmarket resident or business owner hit hard financially by pandemic? Read this

Town's updated financial relief program a more targeted approach to help those suffering

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 29, 2021
Lisa Queen

Newmarket has introduced a new COVID-19 financial relief program, which will replace the existing program set to expire Jan. 31.

The new program will provide a more targeted approach to residents and businesses who are experiencing financial challenges during the pandemic, the town said in a statement.

The 2021 program will include:

• Waiving penalties and interest on unpaid property taxes for eligible residential property owners (through an application process).

• Increasing the existing property tax assistance rebate to elderly residents from $320 to $450.

• Increasing the existing residential water and wastewater rebate from $354 to $420,

• Providing a water rebate of $1,000 for eligible small businesses (through an application process).

“It’s important that we as a municipality continue to support our residents, elderly residents, and small local businesses that have been significantly impacted by the pandemic,” Mayor John Taylor said.

“This innovative financial relief program, coupled with existing provincial and municipal financial measures, ensures a fair and targeted approach to support community members who are most in need.”

The program is aimed at residents and businesses struggling financially during the pandemic.

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“If your finances are not significantly impacted by COVID-19, we encourage you to please continue to pay your taxes, hydro and utility bills on time if you can,” Taylor said.

“This will help the town as we continue to use our resources to support those who require assistance.”

Eligible residential property owners wanting to have penalties and interest waived on unpaid property taxes will be required to apply through the town at newmarket.ca/financialreliefprogram.

To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a residential property owner in Newmarket.

• Suffered significant reduced hours, job loss or significant loss of income as a result of the pandemic. Property owners will be required to provide documents to support hardship (e.g. letter from employer, Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) or Employment Insurance benefit (EI) eligibility letter.

• Designate one residential property for financial relief.

Low-income elderly residents who qualified for the Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement were eligible to apply for a property tax rebate of $320 in 2020.

In the new financial relief program, the town will temporarily increase this rebate to $450 in 2021.

The town offers eligible residents a water and wastewater rebate if they qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement under the Old Age Security Act, support under the Ontario Disability Program or Ontario Works Assistance.

As part of the new program, the town will be increasing the water and wastewater rebate to $420 a year, up from $354.

Newmarket is offering small businesses a $1,000 temporary rebate on their water bill.

The town will ask landlords who receive this rebate to pass the savings on to their small business tenants, where applicable.

All eligible local businesses will see a $100 rebate on their February water bill. Businesses who wish to continue to receive this rebate will be required to submit an application to the Town before March 5. An application form will be included with the February water bill and available online in February at newmarket.ca/financialreliefprogram.

In addition to the financial relief program, the town has other community support programs.

The business community is supported through the creation of the Business Assistance Concierge (BAC) program (a virtual business support and resiliency centre) at https://www.newmarket.ca/bac, an overall economic resiliency action plan, and the Choose Local campaign at newmarket.ca/chooselocal.

For more information, call 905-895-5193 or email info@newmarket.ca