Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark announced yesterday a one-time investment for many of Ontario’s small and rural municipalities to improve local service delivery and efficiency in the province’s municipalities.
“Taxpayers need their local government to deliver modern, efficient services that show respect for their hard-earned dollars. This funding will help small and rural municipalities improve how they deliver services and reduce the ongoing costs of providing those services,” said Minister Clark. “I look forward to continuing to work together with our municipal partners to help people and businesses in communities across our province thrive.”
Municipalities in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound will receive almost $8.3 million, with amounts ranging from $725,000 to $580,295 to improve service delivery by finding smarter, more efficient ways to spend money that help those who need it most while respecting taxpayer dollars. This money will support some of Ontario’s small and rural municipalities that may have limited capacity to plan, modernize and improve the way they provide services to their communities.
“I’m very happy municipalities in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound are receiving this funding. This investment is unconditional, the government is providing this money to support municipalities to allow them to find smarter ways to deliver services that support their local needs and respect taxpayer dollars,” said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker.
“This is part of the government’s efforts to restore transparency and accountability in Ontario’s finances. The province undertook a line-by-line review of its own expenditures, and expects our partners, including municipalities, to be taking steps to become more efficient,” added MPP Walker. “Examples could include service delivery reviews, development of shared services agreements, IT solutions, capital investments or other projects. Municipalities will decide how to best target funding to benefit their local communities.”
The funding supports Ontario’s commitment to reduce the cost of government.
In total, 405 small and rural municipalities across the province will receive funding. Including:
- Bruce County – $725,000
- South Bruce Peninsula – $631,428
- Arran-Elderslie – $580,295
- Northern Bruce Peninsula – $631,428
- Grey County – $725,000
- Owen Sound – $634,340
- Hanover – $604,923
- Meaford – $642,347
- Chatsworth – $591,846
- Southgate – $591,606
- Georgian Bluffs – $642,347
- Grey Highlands – $642,347
- West Grey – $642,347
