Provincial Budget
Ontario's revised fall 2020 Budget, released in November of that year, outlined a plan to respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID. The budget pointed to specific steps the government has taken to support the parks and recreation sector, including a number of resources supporting return to play. In terms of resource allocation, the budget pointed to a $10.2 billion investment in the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) across four streams: Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure; Green Infrastructure; Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure, and Public Transit.
In January 2021, the government engaged in consultations for its spring 2021 budget. PRO submitted a brief focused on a sector specific recovery fund that provides funding for engaging Ontarians outdoors, making outdoor spaces accessible year-round, and supporting the work of the sector in making parks and recreation resilient to future disruption.
2021 PRO Budget Submission
On January 25, PRO CEO Cathy Denyer gave remarks at an online consultation with the Minister of Finance emphasizing the importance of parks and recreation and underlining PRO's budget requests.
2021 Budget
Ontario’s Support Strategy for Tourism, Hospitality, Culture and Sports
- - Invesment of more than $400 million over the next three years in new initiatives to support the hospitality, culture, sports and recreation sectors.
- - Investment of $200 million for infrastructure funding to larger, strategic projects, sports facilities, and support the sport and recreation sector through the newly established Strategic Priorities and Infrastructure Fund. The Strategic Priorities and Infrastructure Fund is delivered through two streams. The Priority Local Infrastructure stream will support new build multi-purpose facilities for community, culture, and recreation purposes. The Sport and Community Renewal stream provides funding to support the renovation and rehabilitation of sport and community infrastructure.
- - Creation of the new Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant, which will provide an estimated $100 million in one?time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to eligible small businesses including hotels, motels, travel agencies, amusement and water parks, hunting and fishing camps, and recreational and vacation camps.
- Funding to offer free day-use entries to Ontario Parks throughout the summer.
- $3.9 million over three years to use technology at provincial parks to help Ontarians find recreational opportunities that fit their location and interests.
- - Increases to the CARE tax credit to help provide tax relief to families sending kids to camp and outdoor education programs.