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Dryden Receiving Provincial Funds For Duke Street Improvements

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The City of Dryden is on the receiving end of some provincial funding for road maintenance.

The City is being provided up to $400,854 to support the milling and repaving of Duke Street between Highway 17 and Colonization Avenue for drainage and sewer improvements.

The money will not include paving of the bridge deck.

The money comes from the provincial Connecting Links program which is assisting municipalities across the province to help them build, repair or replace roads and bridges that connect a provincial highway to a community or border crossing.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford says “Today’s investment to repave Duke Street will serve the people of Dryden and the region for many years to come.”

Rickford adds “Northerners depend on properly-maintained road infrastructure as our primary mode of transportation. That is why our government continues to invest in transportation infrastructure across the province, with focused investments in road infrastructure projects in the north.”

Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney says “We understand that the maintenance and repair costs of roads and bridges places a heavy burden on our municipal partners, that is why we continue to support our local communities with investments that will keep families safe, goods moving, and drive economic growth and job creation.”

The provincial government is providing $30 million to 24 municipalities through Connecting Links funding this year.

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Province Support Forestry Industry And Workers

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The Ontario government says it’s working on a plan to help protect the forestry industry during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry John Yakabuski has launched virtual consultations with leaders from the forestry sector to discuss their interests and concerns.

Yakabuski says ideas from the talks will be reported into the government’s new Ontario Jobs and Recovery Committee.

He notes that group will take in the feedback to identify how best to protect and support people and jobs, restart the economy and move towards the recovery across Ontario..

Yakabuski says the industry is critical to the provincial economy, generating over $18-billion in revenue and supporting about 155,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Meantime, the province is investing $3.5-million to help protect tree planters this season.

Minister Yakabuski says they are safeguarding the workers who regenerate our forests and the communities where they work during the pandemic.

The money will be used for larger camps and additional kitchens to provide more space, as well as extra personal protective equipment, plastic partitions for transporting workers and more wash stations.

Yakabuski says this will help expand facilities and modify operations to ensure those who plant trees can work in a safe environment.

He adds with these measures, the government is also securing the planting of 70 million trees this year in Ontario’s forests.

 

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Feds Roll Out Help For Farmers

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The federal government is rolling out new programs to help farmers and the agriculture industry.

$252 million dollars was announced, below is a breakdown of what the money is going towards.

  • $77 million to help food processors purchase protective equipment for workers
  • $125 million to help beef and pork producers who are raising more animals than can currently be processed because of COVID-19
  • $50 million for a food surplus purchasing program that will help feed those in need

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will be buying large amounts of surplus food and give it to food banks and other agencies in need of food.

“There have been a number of farmers who have had to dispose of surplus production, but the new program will help address that going forward. It’s not a perfect situation by any stretch but we are doing what we can to ensure that people are rewarded for their hard work and that others are not going hungry,” Trudeau said.

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Funding For KDMA To Improve COVID Communication

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The Kenora District Municipal Association is welcoming $10,000 in one time funding from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.

The money will help establish reliable and secure communications between municipalities during the COVID-19 crisis.

The KDMA represents nine municipalities, including the Township of Ignace, which is engaged with the NWMO as a potential host for a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel.

KDMA President Kevin Kahoot says the donation will allow them to purchase much needed information technology equipment and software so they can coordinate virtual communication between municipal leaders in the region.

Vice-President of Site Selection Ben Belfadhel says the KDMA plays an important role in northwestern Ontario and they remain committed to engaging with the organization as they work together to overcome coronavirus challenges.

 

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Homelessness Funding For Kenora District

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Some good news for the Kenora District.

The Government of Canada has come up with some funding for homelessness initiatives.

This year the Kenora District Services Board will get $244,000 and $377,000 for the two years after that.

This area is one of six regions across Canada that will be getting the money.

The others are the Cochrane District including the City of Timmins, Cowachin Valley in B.C., Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Lambton County in southwestern Ontario.

The funding comes from Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

 

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Area Communities Receive Money From NWMO

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A number of communities are receiving financial aid from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to help them cope with COVID-19.

19 communities involved in the site selection process for an underground repository are being supported by the NWMO to the tune of $25,000.

That includes Ignace and Dryden as the Ignace/Wabigoon Lake First Nations bid is one of two still being considered.

South Bruce and its neighbours in southern Ontario are also in the running.

Dryden Mayor Greg Wilson says “as Drydenites come to grips with new economic and social realities unfolding before us in 2020, this tangible show of support is certainly appreciated”

NWMO Vice-President of Site Selection Ben Belfadhel says “all of us have a responsibility to take actions to help flatten the curve, and we have long been committed to supporting the health and well-being of the communities who are in the NWMO site selection process.”

Belfadhel also says “each community faces its own unique challenges during this time and we want to offer our support.”

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Trudeau & Trump Differ On Border Reopening

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It appears Canada’s message to the United States is “not so fast” when it comes to easing travel restrictions along the Canada-US border.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday our border will be one of the early ones to be released, something Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isn’t fully committing to just yet.

“There’s a recognition of as we move forward there will be special thought given to our special relationship but at the same time we know that there is a significant amount of time still before we can talk about loosening said restrictions,” Trudeau said.

Currently, all non-essential travel between the two countries is banned.

The Prime Minister also spoke recently with G7 country leaders about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Trudeau didn’t specify if they spoke about President Trump’s decision to withdraw funding to the World Health Organization.

“There is a need for international coordination and the WHO is an important part of that collaboration. We recognize that there have been questions asked but at the same time it is important we stay coordinated as we move through this,” Trudeau said.

Today, the Prime Minister announced they would expand the Canada Emergency Business Account so more businesses could access it for loans during the pandemic.

The Government of Canada is:

  • Expanding the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to businesses that paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019. This new range will replace the previous one of between $50,000 and $1 million and will help address the challenges faced by small businesses to cover non-deferrable operating costs. Since the launch of the CEBA on April 9, 2020, more than 195,000 loans have been approved by financial institutions, extending more than $7.5 billion in credit to small businesses.
  • Announcing its intent to introduce the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. The program will seek to provide loans, including forgivable loans, to commercial property owners who in turn will lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactive), May, and June. Implementation of the program will require a partnership between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments, which are responsible for property owner-tenant relationships. We are working with the provinces and territories to increase rent support for businesses that are most impacted by the pandemic and we will have more details to share soon.
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Provincial Funding For Families

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Parents can now apply for one-time provincial financial assistance during COVID-19 school and child care closures.

The government is providing $200 per child 12-years-old and younger and $250 for anyone 21 and under with special needs.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the new ‘Support for Families’ initiative is another step to support struggling families.

Lecce says parents already receiving ‘Support for Parents’ payments through direct deposit will automatically be eligible for this financial support and do not need to submit a new application.

He adds the funding is available to all Ontario residents, regardless of whether or not their child is in school or child care.

Lecce notes the closures have disrupted family life and the government will do whatever it takes to support them and keep them safe.

For application information visit http://www.ontario.ca/supportforfamilies or call 1-888-444-3770.

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Mental Health Help Coming For Canadians

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Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu understands people are worried about the COVID-19 pandemic and when it will end.

Hajdu told Acadia Broadcasting’s John Ongaro recently that soon there will be additional mental health supports for Canadians.

“We’ll have more to say next week about a mental health app that everyone can access to get support. We know that kids are struggling and last week Kids Help Phone received additional funding to make sure there are additional counsellors available to answer questions from kids,” Hajdu said.

Hajdu says her family is in good spirits but her one son is looking forward to getting back to work in the trades.

On the physical distancing front, Hajdu asks for your continued patience to stay at home and says by doing so you are saving lives.

“You don’t know whose life you are going to save, but I’ll tell you right now, as the disease spreads, ultimately at the end of the day that’s what driving the surge in our communities and we have to be extremely vigilant,” Hajdu said.

 

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Provincial Funding For Local Social Services Programs

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Ontario is providing over $2-million in additional support for local social services programs.

The money is going to the Kenora District Services Board and the Rainy River District Social Services Administrative Board to help them deal with the coronavirus.

Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford says the funding can be used to support homeless shelters, food banks, emergency services, charities and non-profits.

It can also be used to provide emergency loans for people having a hard time paying their rent.

Rickford says the goal is to improve critical services, hire additional staff, acquire more personal protective equipment, and find ways to promote physical distancing and self-isolation.

The local MPP says “Additional funding for social services is critical right now to protect vulnerable populations and the greater community against the spread of COVID-19. Our government has taken swift action to ensure this funding goes directly to our community service boards who are working tirelessly to keep people safe during this unprecedented time.”

 

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