Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon
After a quick perusal of the 2024 federal budget handed down Tuesday, Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon said that overall, if the feds are able to deliver, there was some good news for lower-tier municipalities.
Emon, who also chairs the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus, noted that Ontario municipalities manage about $484 billion of infrastructure systems and require an estimated $52 billion in added investment, something neither the provincial or federal budget really addressed.
The $1 billion allotted to support urgent municipal infrastructure needs is welcomed.
It’s good news that the Housing Accelerator Fund was topped up with an additional $400 million, said Emon, but what’s not known yet is who can apply for that. Emon is not encouraged by the last round of funding.
Another good news item, according to Emon – an additional $15 billion in the Canada Construction Loan Program, which is a significant fund for housing for students and seniors, both needed in Renfrew County.
A new $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund seems to protect affordable housing, and should create new affordable apartments, said Emon. The fund provides money for loans and contributions to non-profit organizations to acquire units and preserve rent prices in the long term. While all the details are not clear, he is hopeful.
Among the other encouraging line items was the National School Food Program, something the Renfrew County and District Health Unit board, the Association of Municipalities Ontario and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has been asking for.
Also of note in the budget, according to Emon, was: money for municipal community culture and recreation facilities through green and inclusive building programs; incentives for health care professionals to practice in rural communities; the doubling of the volunteer firefighter tax credit; a new secondary suite loan program; and some funds for opioid reduction and homelessness.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)