Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Office of the Minister
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
234-2022-381
March 17, 2022
Richard Malette
Vice Chair
Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board
rmalette@msdsb.net
Dear Vice Chair Malette:
I would like to thank you and staff, Fern Dominelli, Chief Administrative Officer and Donna Stewart, Associate Chief Administrative Officer, for taking the time to meet with me at the 2022 Virtual Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference. We have conquered many obstacles that rural municipalities have faced over the last year, and we will continue working with you to build on our progress.
I appreciated hearing your concerns about the board’s annual allocations under the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) and your request for additional funding that recognizes high construction costs in northern Ontario.
As discussed during your delegation the province is committed to an all of government approach, working with all ministries to provide programs that are flexible and sustainable. Through our Community Housing Renewal Strategy and response to COVID-19 we are projecting to invest over $3 billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22, which will help sustain, repair and grow community housing and address homelessness in Ontario.
If you or your staff would like to discuss these matters further, ministry staff would be pleased to assist. Please feel free to contact Kathy Horgan, Manager, Local
Government and Housing in the Northern Municipal Services Office at 705-677-8167 or kathy.horgan@ontario.ca. You can also contact Alex Earthy, my Strategic Advisor – Housing Affordability, Alex Earthy, at Alex.Earthy@ontario.ca.
We will continue to work closely with our municipal leaders to further build on the progress that has been made to sustain, repair, and strengthen our rural communities. Thank you for your dedication and support to help build rural Ontario.
Once again, I would like to thank you for taking the time to meet with me at the ROMA Conference.
Sincerely,
Steve Clark
Minister
c. Bruce Killah, Chair, Manitoulin Sudbury District Services Board bkillah@ontario.net Fern Dominelli, Chief Administrative Office, Manitoulin Sudbury District Services Board fern.dominelli@msdsb.net