Niagara municipalities need help from feds, province

Re: Re: Survey estimates Niagara business losses at $7.8 billion due to COVID-19 pandemic and 51% reported layoffs, June 25

Lost revenue due to COVID-19 will have a devastating impact on the ability of our local government to deliver the services we all rely on.

As of this writing, it is projected that the gross costs related to COVID-19 will be nearly $50 million for the Niagara Region. For the city of St. Catharines, the current revenue loss due to COVID-19 stands at an estimated $10.5 million. In April, estimates for Welland and Niagara Falls stood at $4.4 million and $7 million respectively.

We have already seen municipalities forced to defer important projects, reduce services and lay off, furlough or redeploy the workers that provide these services.

This crisis could act as a destabilizing force for our national economy. In addition, mass funding shortfalls at the municipal level would result in significant delays in local economic recovery and an increase in the numbers of community members who are experiencing lay off, reduced wages or job loss.

The Canadian Labour Congress has asked for immediate action from the provincial and federal governments to provide emergency funding for municipalities in order to protect vital local services.

Please join me in amplifying this call to save our cities, towns, and municipalities from financial devastation by providing immediate emergency assistance.

Lou Ann Binning, President Niagara Regional Labour Council