November 24th, 2020
November 24th, 2020
CAMBRIDGE — It’s wrong for Doug Ford to rip support away from Cambridge mid-pandemic with a cut to its Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund allocation, says NDP Deputy Leader John Vanthof. Vanthof is calling on Ford’s Conservatives to cancel the cut and step up support for Cambridge amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Ford is slashing the City of Cambridge’s allocation from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund by $20,100 in 2021. That’s down 15 per cent compared to what it got in 2020.
“From public services to road repairs, Cambridge will have less funding to support local priorities this year thanks to Doug Ford,” said Vanthof. “Ford’s cuts to municipalities would be bad any year, but they are especially bad when the pandemic is putting unprecedented pressure on local budgets.
“Ford’s Conservatives are backing municipalities into a corner, forcing them to consider cutting services or hiking taxes to make up the shortfall as provincial support shrinks.”
Since taking office, Ford has doubled down on cuts to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, ripping away $5 million in 2019 and taking away another $5 million in 2020.
“Ontario’s New Democrats believe Cambridge deserves to have a provincial partner that will shoulder its fair share,” said Vanthof. “That’s why we’re calling on Doug Ford to cancel his cut and step up support, to help Cambridge get through the pandemic.”
Background:
Compared to 2020, Ford is slashing support for Cambridge available through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund in 2021 by $20,100, or 15 per cent.