There could be some encouraging words for municipal leaders in the province from Premier Doug Ford.
The premier has promised there will be some help with the provincial cuts which are expected to take effect next year, by providing transitional funding.
Ford told members of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa, “We recognize our government moved quickly when we came into office to address our inherited challenges…but we’ve listened to you.”
What that will mean to promised cuts to public health programs and daycare is still not known according to Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro.
Mauro told our newsroom, “that’s one of the questions we will be trying to get clarity on.”
The mayor is still not certain exactly how much less money the city will have to work within the coming budget year.
As well the premier promised no changes to provincial transfer payments to municipalities next year.
Ford told his audience, “There will also be no changes to the structure of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund for 2020 to provide you with greater certainty in fiscal planning.”
