Ford government needs to 'step up' and help financially strapped municipalities: Schreiner

The provincial government "has to step up" to better help municipalities hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Guelph MPP and Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner says.

He says municipalities have lost revenue streams due to the pandemic.Waterloo region has projected a $17 million deficit if they don't receive financial aid. Some of that is expected to be offset by funding from the federal government, with Ontario getting $7 billion to split various ways including buying more personal protective equipment and for child care and health care.

"The province has more fiscal capacity than the municipalities. Municipalities cannot run budget deficits. The province can. And the province can access those funds at very low interest rates right now," Schreiner said.

Last week during a stop in Kitchener, Premier Doug Ford said the province will "get the money for the municipalities."

But he also called on municipalities to ensure they were cutting costs where possible.

Not supporting municipalities could mean cuts to services at community centres, transit, shelters and child care, Schreiner believes.

"Those kinds of cuts simply won't allow our economy to reopen safely or for our communities to deliver the services people expect," he said.

Listen to the whole interview: