I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and cooperation of Premiers in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic over the past few months – and I want to acknowledge the historic agreement of more than $19 billion between the provinces, territories and the federal government. To protect the health of Canadians and ensure a safe reopening of our economies, all governments must continue to work together effectively to manage the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. More support for Canadians through the Safe Restart Agreement: pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/07/16/more-support-canadians-through-safe-restart-agreement Funding provided under the Safe Restart Agreement will also support services and protections for people with mental health issues and problematic substance use by increasing Ontario`s investment in community support in Mental health, such as the expansion and staffing of virtual programs and infection support will be strengthened. Prevention and control measures among other priority sectoral needs. Federal-Provincial Agreement to Support NOVA Scotians Affected by COVID and Restart the Economy: novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20200716004 To support the recovery of the economy, the Government of Canada will allocate $4.05 billion to purchase PSA for national distribution to provinces and territories, $500 million to purchase PSA for the non-health sector and $3 billion directly to provide to provinces and territories past and planned investments in PSA. To facilitate future procurement, provinces and territories will regularly share relevant PSE data with the Government of Canada. This letter sets out Ontario`s funding priorities under the Canada-Ontario Safe Restart Agreement. Reflect our understanding of common objectives and funding commitments made in the seven priority areas. This letter and its annex represent the entire agreement on a safe restart and the conditions established between our two governments. Canadians are well served by the strong and cooperative efforts of First Ministers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All Premiers reaffirm their commitment to this approach as they continue to address their shared top priority of the well-being and safety of all Canadians. Funding under the agreement will also support Ontario`s ongoing rapid case management and contact tracing efforts to contain outbreaks and continue to achieve our goal of reaching new cases within 24 hours of receiving a positive test result. Ontario will continue to put in place human resources (including the inclusion of in-kind contributions for contact tracing) and supporting infrastructure (including laboratory capacity, inventories, centralized data systems) so that we can adequately prepare for a possible increase in the number of cases in the fall. Ontario will need support from the federal government to ensure we have access to certain reagents and analytical supplies and to share relevant information on Ontario`s procurement needs. To safely restart the economy, Canada must ensure that workers do not return to work if they have COVID-19 or symptoms. Ontario municipalities will receive a total of $2 billion in support to address community operational pressures, social services, including shelters and food banks, and exceptional public health costs to support public health and safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ontario`s transit agencies will receive up to $2 billion to address the real financial pressures associated with COVID-19. Ontario will provide up to $2.2 billion: $1 billion for public transit and $1.22 billion for municipal operational pressures, which will help strengthen communities, boost jobs and the economy, and ensure the continuity of essential services, including public transit, while the province reopens safely and gradually. This funding is expected to support a range of services and needs, including but not limited to the following: AMO is pleased that the remaining funds from the Safe Restart Agreement are currently being made available to local governments. “This funding will better position municipalities in all regions of Ontario to maintain key community services in 2021 and continue the capital investments that are critical to Ontario`s economic recovery,” said AMO President Graydon Smith.

In addition, Secretary Clark noted that the province is providing $1.3 billion for municipal transportation systems on a fictitious basis beyond the initial allocation of $700 million under Phase 1 of the SRA. Further details on this funding will be available in January 2021. This financial assistance plan, and in particular early support in 2021, follows AMO`s direct advice to provide more certainty about the financial needs of local governments. This will help communities continue to protect their communities and play a critical role in Ontario`s economic recovery as we head into the year ahead. For more information: Mra Funding Phase 2 – Municipal Allocations. This investment will contribute to key priorities agreed to by Canada`s First Ministers for a safe restart of the Canadian economy over the next six to eight months. It will support measures to improve testing and contact tracing for the virus to protect Canadians from a future outbreak, and will support the capacity of our health systems, including services for people with mental health issues. It will also help purchase personal protective equipment to help our important and most vulnerable workers, such as our seniors.

The Government of Canada is working to ensure that Canada has the resources it needs to get the economy back on track safely while protecting the health of Canadians. In partnership with the provinces and territories, the federal government`s efforts will focus on seven priorities to meet the immediate needs of Canadians over the next six to eight months. As part of these ongoing commonalities, I am pleased to accept additional federal funding and join forces as a full funding partner in key areas to address critical needs over the next six to eight months under the Safe Restart Agreement, which, including federal government spending, Will provide more than $7 billion to Ontarians to support front-line and community-based health care. . . .