Ontario Supports Modernization of Small and Rural Municipalities

Ontario Supports Modernization of Small and Rural Municipalities

Funding helps improve the delivery of critical programs and services while saving taxpayers’ dollars

June 30, 2021

Municipal Affairs and Housing


TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing up to $24 million to support the modernization of 224 small and rural municipalities across the province. This investment will help improve the delivery of critical programs and services that people rely on every day, while saving taxpayers’ dollars.

“Today marks another milestone in our government’s delivery of supports to 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.”

A total of 254 projects have been approved for funding under Intake 2 of Ontario’s Municipal Modernization Program. 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 help municipalities administer the cost savings 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

  • Exact funding amounts for each municipality are not being disclosed in order to protect the integrity of the procurement process.
  • 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.

Related Topics

Government

Learn about the government services available to you and how government works. Learn more

Rural and North

Information about the province’s Far North and rural communities. Get connected to business improvement organizations and learn more about funding and programs that support rural, northern and Indigenous communities. Learn more

Funding helps improve the delivery of critical programs and services while saving taxpayers’ dollars

June 30, 2021

Municipal Affairs and Housing


TORONTO — The Ontario government is providing up to $24 million to support the modernization of 224 small and rural municipalities across the province. This investment will help improve the delivery of critical programs and services that people rely on every day, while saving taxpayers’ dollars.

“Today marks another milestone in our government’s delivery of supports to 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.”

A total of 254 projects have been approved for funding under Intake 2 of Ontario’s Municipal Modernization Program. 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 help municipalities administer the cost savings 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

  • Exact funding amounts for each municipality are not being disclosed in order to protect the integrity of the procurement process.
  • 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.

Related Topics

Government

Learn about the government services available to you and how government works. Learn more

Rural and North

Information about the province’s Far North and rural communities. Get connected to business improvement organizations and learn more about funding and programs that support rural, northern and Indigenous communities. Learn more