- Council endorse the following resolution which approves seeking additional funding for Phase 2 of the municipal operating stream, subject to Treasurer confirmation that eligibility criterion have been satisfied, as part of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement;
“Whereas on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization and the Canadian Government declared COVID-19 a global pandemic; and,
Whereas on March 12, Ontario ordered schools closed and by March 17, began a more extensive shut down; and,
Whereas the pandemic has led to the closure of public spaces, and the cancellation of events around the world, throughout the country, our province and right here within our own community, causing additional financial cost and pressures to the City; and
Whereas in response to the significant financial impacts of COVID-19, the City has taken steps to reduce expenditures. These steps include halting all discretionary spending; employee layoffs and placement of full-time employees on declared emergency leave; halting non-critical hiring; and prioritizing capital projects; and
Whereas staff are actively advocating with municipal counterparts to higher levels of government for emergency financing to assist with the projected losses rather than depleting the City’s reserves in one year; and
Whereas on July 27, 2020, as part of the federal-provincial Safe Restart Agreement, the Ontario government announced that it has secured up to $4 billion in emergency financial assistance to provide Ontario’s 444 municipalities with the support they need to respond to COVID-19; and
Whereas the City’s COVID-19 financial impacts projected up until December 31, 2020 surpassed the Phase 1 funding of the municipal operating stream after taking into consideration City-owned reserves and expenditure savings successfully mitigated;
Therefore be it resolved:
That, subject to Treasurer confirmation that eligibility criterion have been satisfied, Guelph City Council is seeking additional funding for Phase 2 of the municipal operating stream to support financial operating costs and pressures related to COVID-19."