Province boosts Sudbury's annual funding by $2.7M

The City of Greater Sudbury is one of more than 300 municipalities receiving an increase to their annual provincial funding this year.

Monday morning, Ontario's rural affairs minister, Lisa Thompson, was at Tom Davies Square to announce the annual funding.

"We're here because we want to recognize the amazing work that's happening in the Greater City of Sudbury," Thompson told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an interview.

"We want to demonstrate our provincial support by the increase in the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund by $2.7 million."

Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said the funding boost was a "welcome surprise" and will be used for city services and infrastructure.

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"The funding of this program has not increased for a very long time. So, the fact that we're going from $21.7 million up to around $24 million, goes a long way," Lefebvre said.

In addition to supporting the most vulnerable population, the money will also be used on things such as roads and transit.

"All of these things we do as a municipality, we will be looking at using up funding to (ensure) the continuation of those services and as well an increase of those services," the mayor said.

Ward 5 Coun. Mike Parent said city council was aware of the funding while they were working on the 2025 municipal budget, so it is already accounted for.

"We built it into really sustaining existing core programs and some of that may trickle its way into infrastructure, but none of it was dedicated to any one infrastructure project or program," Parent said.

"Since amalgamation, we've inherited a lot of infrastructure and a lot of roads, and we appreciate the province stepping up and helping us support some of that infrastructure."

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Thompson said the premier and her provincial colleagues are always listening.

"We are engaged and we understand that in order for northern and rural communities in particular to have confidence growing forward, we need to make sure they have the funds that are needed," she said.

"If our province is going to continue to grow and prosper, every single community needs to have that confidence as well across this province."

None of the money will be used to fund the city's new downtown area/events centre, Lefebvre said.

"Municipal funding, when it comes to that type of arena, that's a bit different," he said.

"The province doesn't really have a program for that."

However, he said, the $200 million project is still on track.

When it comes to encampments, homelessness, addictions and mental health, Parent said the money could possibly indirectly help those social issues.