Guelph, Ontario, June 5, 2020 – The Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) met this morning for further discussion about the growing financial and service delivery challenges municipalities face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Municipalities provide the essential services that Ontario residents rely on every day, including services essential to economic recovery. LUMCO mayors report dire financial implications for municipalities, specifically as it relates to operational costs, and expressed concern about their ability to maintain service levels in the absence of emerging funding from other levels of government.
“Municipalities are facing a perfect storm of increased costs and decreased revenues in the face of this public health crisis; this threatens our ability to deliver critical services when our residents need them most,” said LUMCO Chair and Mayor of Guelph Cam Guthrie. “Municipalities do not have the fiscal capacity to manage these increased costs on our own. We need support from the governments of Canada and Ontario.”
LUMCO mayors resolved to reach out to their local Members of Parliament and Members of Provincial Parliament to seek commitments for their support.
“Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Ford have acknowledged the need for more emergency support for municipalities. This is a now problem, not a tomorrow problem. We need action, not words,” said Mayor Guthrie. “On behalf of Ontario’s big city mayors, please, conclude your negotiations and start supporting our residents and the services we all need to support the recovery.”
Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs Steven Clark, Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton joined the LUMCO mayors this morning to share updates about the Province’s response to COVID-19.
About LUMCO
The Large Urban Mayors’ Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) includes mayors of 29 single and lower-tier cities with a population of 100,000 or more, amounting to 69% of Ontario’s population. LUMCO advocates for issues and policies important to Ontario’s largest cities.
For more information:
Mayor Cam Guthrie, Chair of LUMCO
519-837-5643
mayor@guelph.ca