The Ontario government has launched financial assistance programs to help municipalities and businesses recover from the March ice storm.
This is in addition to the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program.
Kevin Rankin, Barrie's manager of parks and forestry, said in a memo to city council earlier this month that the clean-up cost from the ice storm was nearly $25 million ($24,954,956).
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Under the MDRA program, the city could recover $22 million, leaving Barrie on the hook for $2.9 million.
Rankin's memo gave councillors a preliminary breakdown of expenses.
Contracted Services: $23,881,586
Equipment Rentals: $474,870
Assistance from other municipalities: $111,500
Municipal Asset Repairs: $90,000
Overtime Expenses: $227,000
Capital and Operating Equipment Expenses: $170,000
Total Projected Expenses: $24,954,956
Estimated Disaster Relief Funding: $22,013,355
Estimated Municipal Expenses: $2,941,601
The deadline to apply for the MDRA program is July 28, 2025.
According to the province, the newly announced Municipal Ice Storm Assistance (MISA) program will help affected municipalities with emergency response and recovery costs, including clean-up of fallen trees and making communities safe from hazardous branches along roads and paths.
The Business Ice Storm Assistance (BISA) program, according to the government, will provide up to $5 million for small businesses, small farms and not-for-profit organizations to assist with storm-related clean-up and essential repairs not covered by insurance.
Eligible municipalities and businesses will have until Oct. 31 to apply for funding.
The ice storm impacted a wide area of central and eastern Ontario, leaving nearly 400,000 homes and businesses without power.
"These new programs will deliver critical financial support to help make communities safe, protect local jobs and get businesses back on their feet," Rob Flack, minister of municipal affairs and housing, said in a news release.
