GTHA Cities and Regions call on federal and provincial governments to continue COVID-19 transit relief funding

HAMILTON, ON – Today, Mayors and Chairs from the 11 largest municipal governments across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area met to discuss the ongoing response to COVID-19 and the Omicron variant across the region.

During the meeting, the Mayors and Chairs discussed how they continue to see the Omicron surge subsiding in their municipalities and the ongoing commitment to helping residents get vaccinated, with a focus on kids' vaccinations and third doses for eligible residents. 

A strong economic recovery is so important for the future of the GTHA, and the Mayors and Chairs are committed to working with the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario to support that recovery over the coming months.

This involves, most importantly, continued support from both governments for ongoing COVID-related budget shortfalls, driven primarily by a drop in ridership across transit systems and extraordinary costs to shelter residents. This matter is urgent, as some municipalities have recently passed their 2022 budgets, and others will do so in the coming weeks. Without further support, cities will soon be forced to consider service reductions, or reductions in capital budgets, both of which will be detrimental to residents as they continue to face the pandemic, and as the region’s economy recovers.

The GTHA benefitted immensely from support from both governments in 2020 and 2021 to ensure we can continue delivering critical services, respond to the pandemic, while continuing to deliver capital programs that build up communities and keep the economy moving.

A vibrant economic recovery and a fair chance for many of our essential workers both require strong transit systems and fully funded capital programs across the GTHA. Cities and regions will drive that recovery and therefore it is imperative that both federal and provincial governments commit to continuing COVID-19 relief funding to municipalities on an urgent basis.