Area communities are playing the waiting game on how much money they will receive from the provincial government to offset planned cuts to public health and child care.
Premier Doug Ford has promised funding, however Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance isn’t pleased with the direction of the government.
“If people want the services, they will have to be paid for and it’s a provincial transfer/download to the municipal tax base. These services, to my mind, are a provincial responsibility and should remain at the provincial tax base. People need the services. It’s too bad that this is happening.”
Lawrance says they appreciate the transitional funding but stresses it’s a provincial download and ultimately the government is making cuts that will impact services.
Starting in 2020, municipalities will have to pay up to 30% of public health care costs and 20% of the cost of creating new child care spaces.
