Ford says he won’t settle for ‘bad deal’ with the feds

TORONTO — Ontario won’t settle for a “bad deal” when it comes to billions in required financial aid for municipalities, Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday, as the rift between the province and the federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over desperately needed civic funding appeared to widen.

Ford said Wednesday he is involved in active talks with Ottawa to secure funding for municipalities strapped for cash due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Municipal leaders said earlier this week an aid package from both upper levels of government is needed to prevent tax increases and service cuts.

The premier said he is not willing to settle for the current federal offer because it is more than a billion dollars short of what’s needed to help shore up Ontario communities.

The premier said Ontario represents 38 per cent of Canada’s population, and he believes it should receive the equivalent to that in the federal deal. “I don’t rush a bad deal,” he said.

The municipal leaders have said $10 billion in funding is needed for communities across the country, including Ontario, and federal and provincial governments must resolve their differences before cuts and fee hikes are needed.

Meanwhile, Ford’s government introduced a sweeping new piece of legislation

Wednesday it said will help the province’s economy recover from the pandemic.

The omnibus bill — dubbed the COVID-19 Recovery Act — proposes to change 20 pieces of current legislation that govern the province’s schools, municipalities, and justice system.

Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark said if passed, the bill would speed up environmental assessments, offer new consumer protections and help address unemployment.