2022 COVID-19 Intergovernmental Funding Update - Urgent Funding Commitments Required - by Mayor John Tory, seconded by Councillor Gary Crawford

There have been significant COVID-19 funding announcements by both the Federal and Provincial Governments since City Council's approval of the budget, bringing the City's COVID-19 budget shortfall down by a third. As a shortfall remains, the City requires commitments from the Province of Ontario and Government of Canada by late May 2022 in order to avoid any impacts to the City's capital program. Based on the COVID-19 funding updates, the estimated remaining funding shortfall, and timing constraints to take necessary actions to address COVID-19 impacts as detailed in the attached report, the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer will report in May 2022 detailing recommended reductions to the 2022 Capital Budget and the required draw from the City's COVID-19 Backstop, in order to ensure the City maintains a balanced 2022 Operating Budget while maintaining service levels across the City. This Motion is urgent because the City requires a commitment of sufficient financial support from the provincial and federal governments by late May 2022 in order to avoid impacting the City's ability to award and deliver seasonal capital projects; and in order to provide City Council with an update in advance of the City Manager and Chief Financial Officer's May report detailing any recommended actions.

2. City Council direct the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer to continue to engage with the Federal and Provincial Governments to obtain funding commitments to fully address remaining COVID-19 related financial impacts anticipated in 2022; to obtain funding commitments for 2022 refugee response costs; and to obtain a firm commitment for the reimbursement of Public Health COVID-19 response and vaccine roll out costs and 2022 supportive housing costs, and authorize the City Manager to receive funds and to negotiate, enter into and execute any required agreements in respect of any such funding commitments.