Province Announces Pandemic Funding For Windsor

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The City of Windsor will receive over $19 million to support the ongoing financial impacts to municipal operating budgets associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

An additional $14,406,000 has been awarded in Phase 2 application-based funding to address the City of Windsor’s 2020 municipal operating pressures.

Losses from the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel operations, Windsor International Airport and reduced casino revenues have contributed to the City’s fiscal pressures.

Funds were awarded to 48 municipalities in Ontario based on applications that were submitted earlier this fall to the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing—of those, only two (Brampton and Toronto) are receiving more than Windsor.

At the same time, all municipalities have been awarded additional funding to help offset 2021 municipal operating budget challenges. Windsor’s allocation is $5,086,000, to be used towards the City of Windsor’s 2021 operating budget pressures, with specific direction from the Province of Ontario to preserve capital projects moving forward.

The City of Windsor will be able to factor these allocations into the planning process for the next municipal budget, set to be presented in early 2021.

“There is no way around it: this is great news for the City of Windsor,” said Mayor Drew Dilkens. “Doug Ford and Steve Clark have recognized the unique challenges that our border community faced as a result of this public health emergency, which dried up revenues from the tunnel, airport and casino while increasing costs associated with keeping our staff and residents safe. We know that the 2021 budget is going to be very challenging and that difficult decisions lie ahead for Council, but 10 days before Christmas, there is no denying that the provincial government has come through for Windsor in a big way.”