The Province is providing up to $1,398,455 to help improve the delivery of critical programs and services by municipalities in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
The funding is being delivered through the Municipal Modernization Program and will support the following local projects:
– Municipality of Magnetawan File Digitalization
– Township of McMurrich/Monteith Service Delivery Review
– Township of Muskoka Lakes Information Technology Master Plan
– District Municipality of Muskoka Human Services Programs Review
– Town of Parry Sound Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Study
– Village of South River Financial Software and Phone System Modernization
– Municipality of Whitestone Digital Modernization Initiatives for Cyber Security, E-Building Permit Software, and Communications System Upgrades
– Town of Bracebridge Electronic Building and Planning Applications Review
– Township of Georgian Bay Modernization and Digital Systems Transformation
– Town of Gravenhurst Building Permit Applications E-solutions Modernization
– Township of Ryerson Digital Modernization Study
– Township of Lake of Bays and Town of Huntsville Joint Fire Protection Services Review
– Village of Sundridge, Township of Joly, and Strong Township Joint Service Delivery Review
“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to deliver programming more efficiently so that people can access the services they need, when and how they need them,” says Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norman Miller. “These projects will ensure that our communities will benefit from innovations and streamlined solutions in a way that will improve services and save taxpayers’ dollars.”
Through this, the second round of Ontario’s Municipal Modernization Program, Ontario is providing up to $24 million to support 254 projects that will modernize services in small and rural municipalities across the province.
“Today marks another milestone in our government’s commitment to supporting municipalities as they look for ways to improve service delivery in our communities,” says Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark. “To put it simply, identifying and implementing modern solutions means money is diverted away from wasteful service delivery and stays in the pockets of local taxpayers.”
Municipalities will use the funding to find efficiencies and implement a wide range of initiatives to digitize, streamline and/or integrate programs and services with neighboring communities. The funding will help municipalities administer the cost-saving measures in time for the 2022 municipal budget cycle.
Ontario has committed up to $125 million over four years to the Municipal Modernization Program to help small and rural municipalities modernize services. Under Intake 1, the Province invested $11.8 million in 180 projects and identified more than $100 million in savings and efficiencies.