A group representing Canada’s cities says municipal budgets are on the brink of financial crisis due to COVID-19 unless the federal government gives billions of dollars in help.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities says cities will need between $10 billion and $15 billion over the next six months to pay for services while they see revenues decline. [ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ] Transit ridership and parking revenue is down as people stay home due to the pandemic, while recreation centres and arenas that would normally be bustling also remain closed.
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, who chairs the federation’s big city mayors’ caucus, says communities face “non-recoverable financial losses” and