Some good news and bad news today from Premier Doug Ford.
"We are increasing funding for land ambulance services by nearly four per cent this year, and it will continue to increase into 2020," he told delegates to the Association of Municipalities in Ottawa.
"This is good news for the city, DNSSAB (District of Nipissing Social Service Administration Board) and the hospital," North Bay councillor and chair of DNSSAB Mark King told BayToday.
The premier made the announcement in his speech this morning.
"We are thankful that the province realized the pressures that EMS face with rising call levels and increasing operating costs," added King. "This budget increase will help but it won’t solve problems surrounding homelessness drug addiction and mental illness. Our board is committed to maintaining the level of front line service that EMS provides."
But the Canadian Press says Ontario will move ahead with some of its controversial municipal funding cuts for public health and childcare next year,
The Progressive Conservative government had tried to force retroactive funding cuts on communities earlier this year but had to cancel them after municipal leaders complained their annual budgets had already passed.
After Ford paused the planned cuts – to public health, childcare and land ambulance funding – in May, it was unclear whether they would go ahead next year. His office said those changes will now take effect Jan. 1.
READ MORE: Premier Ford announces government will cancel retroactive cuts to municipalities
The province’s new plan will see all municipalities pay 30 per cent of public health care costs.
Previously, municipalities had varying public health cost-sharing arrangements with the province – with Ontario paying 100 per cent or 75 per cent in some cases.
Starting on Jan. 1, municipalities will also have to pay 20 per cent of the cost of creating new childcare spaces, which the province previously fully funded.
Some cuts to funding for administrative childcare costs are being delayed until 2021 and others are being delayed to 2022.
With files from Canadian Press.
