Ontario supports modernization of small and rural communities

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THE COUNTIES, Ontario - The Ontario government is providing up to $1,409,419 to help improve the delivery of critical programs and services in Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry and Prescott-Russell. The funding is being delivered through the Municipal Modernization Program and will support the following projects:

  • Township of North Dundas Council Meeting Digitization
  • Municipality of South Dundas Water Services Delivery Review
  • Township of South Glengarry Records Management Review
  • Township of South Stormont Operations and Administration Modernization
  • Village of Casselman Integrated Development Approval (Planning, Building and Engineering) Service Review
  • City of Clarence-Rockland Corporate Wide Service Delivery Review
  • Township of East Hawkesbury Digital Modernization of Building Permits and Website Optimization
  • Town of Hawkesbury Telecommunication Infrastructure Review
  • United Counties of Prescott and Russell Visitor Management Software Development
  • Township of Russell Municipal Services Review
  • Township of Russell Geographic Information System for Asset Inventory Modernization
  • Township of Russell Electronic Signature Management
  • The Nation Municipality Parks and Recreation Service Delivery Review
  • City of Cornwall Radio Communications System Review
  • City of Cornwall Multi-Departmental Electronic Document and Records Management System Implementation

“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to deliver programming more efficiently so that people can access the services they need, when they need them,” said Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. “These projects will ensure that our community will benefit from innovative and streamlined solutions in a way that will positively impact services and save taxpayers’ dollars.”

Ontario is providing up to $24 million to support the modernization of 224 small and rural municipalities across the province. A total of 254 projects will receive funding under Intake 2 of Ontario’s Municipal Modernization Program.

“Today marks another milestone in our government’s commitment to supporting municipalities as they look for ways to improve service delivery in our communities,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “To put it simply, identifying and implementing modern solutions means money is diverted away from wasteful service delivery and stays in the pockets of local taxpayers.”

Municipalities will use the funding to find efficiencies and implement a wide range of initiatives to digitize, streamline and/or integrate programs and services with neighbouring communities. The funding will also help municipalities administer the cost saving measures in time for the 2022 municipal budget cycle.

Ontario has committed up to $125 million over four years through the Municipal Modernization Program to help small and rural municipalities modernize services. Under Intake 1, the Province invested $11.8 million in 180 modernization projects and identified over $100 million in savings and efficiencies.

QUICK FACTS
  • In March, Ontario announced $10 million through the Audit and Accountability Fund to help large municipalities improve the delivery of critical programs and services during COVID-19.
  • The historic federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement secured up to $4 billion in emergency funding to support municipalities throughout COVID-19.
  • Ontario is also providing municipalities with almost $1 billion in additional financial relief in 2021 to help preserve vital public services and support economic recovery. This includes $500 million to help municipalities address their ongoing COVID-19 operating costs, $255 million under the Social Services Relief Fund, and $150 million for transit.

Ontario continues to call on the federal government to increase its funding for municipalities, which will be critical as they continue to recover from the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
List of municipal service delivery and efficiency projects

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