Premier Doug Ford announced that the province will be funnelling over $88 million to improve safety on Ottawa’s transit, in the ByWard Market and help asylum seekers and people experiencing homelessness.
The funding is a part of the $543 million announced back in March as a part of the New Deal, an “historic” agreement between the province and Ottawa that recognizes the unique challenges the city faces.
The remarks came during the Economic Club of Canada forum just before Ford sat down with Ottawa’s Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.
“As we do so, we continue to call on the federal government to be an active partner in the success of our nation’s capital,” Ford said at the conference. “With our historic New Deal for Ottawa, our government is demonstrating our ongoing support and commitment to the success of Ottawa and all of Eastern Ontario.”
The announcement in March from the New Deal notes that the funding will be tailored to Ottawa’s economic recovery, homelessness, addressing crime and repairing roadways like Highway 174.
Tuesday’s comments from Ford piggyback off the previous funding and allocate specifically $48 million over three years towards safety such as violent crime, mental health issues, substance use, particularly in the ByWard Market area.
The $40 million, set to support the city in 2024-25, will go to address the influx of asylum seekers the city is seeing and the rising number of people experiencing homelessness.
This is a breaking news story. More to come.