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Ontario sitting on billions in COVID-19 relief money for essential workers, health care, analysis shows

It’s money an economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says could be used to “wrestle this second wave into submission.” Other provinces are also leaving money in the bank, the analysis shows.

3 min read
covidspending

Many business in Ontario and across Canada have closed as a result of COVID-19. A study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives breaks down who is benefiting from relief dollars and how much remains unspent by provinces.


Ontario is sitting on $6.4 billion in unspent emergency COVID-19 funding as the pandemic rages, according to a new economic analysis, which shows that Ottawa is paying for the bulk of the relief effort.

Ontario is one of six provinces that have left billions on the table, moneys earmarked and urgently needed for health care, long-term care, housing and essential workers, states the study, released Tuesday by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

TB
Theresa Boyle
Theresa Boyle is the Toronto Star's health reporter.
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