Province Kicks In With Derecho Relief

Mar 22, 2023

The Province of Ontario announced this week that they are providing up $5million to Ontario East Municipalities for costs related to the Derecho storm of May 21, 2022.

“The disaster recovery funding is intended to help cover the costs of the emergency response and repairs to municipal infrastructure related to a windstorm that caused damage across Southeastern Ontario. This financial support is being provided through the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program,” said a Ministry release on Tuesday (March 21)

Two of the funding recipients are the Township of Addington Highlands, which will receive the largest amount of the ten municipalities that are being funded, $932,000.

North Frontenac is receiving $193,000, and Greater Madawaska $272,000

Eligible expenses under the relief program may include operating and capital costs that are over and above regular municipal budgets and are directly linked to the disaster.

Disaster-related costs must also reach a threshold of three per cent of a township’s tax levy for its own services.