The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is actively pursuing provincial disaster assistance as our community moves from emergency response into long-term recovery following the recent flooding.
Town Staff are working directly with the Province of Ontario to advance all available funding opportunities for the municipality, residents and eligible small businesses. This work includes compiling damage assessments, documenting extraordinary response and recovery costs, and using flood-related reports submitted through the Town’s online service request system to support potential claims and demonstrate the extent of the community’s needs.
The relevant provincial programs include:
- Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA): A program that may provide financial assistance to municipalities for extraordinary emergency response and recovery costs.
- Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO): A program that may provide financial assistance to eligible residents, small businesses, farms and not-for-profit organizations for essential property damaged by a natural disaster.
Neither program requires the Town to declare a state of emergency. Eligibility is determined through the Province’s assessment and approval processes based on the circumstances, impacts and costs associated with the disaster.
The Town will continue working with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to pursue access to these programs and clarify eligibility and application requirements. Provincial disaster assistance programs involve detailed assessment and approval processes and can take several months to deliver funding. While the Town will advocate for timely decisions and keep the process moving wherever possible, residents and businesses should be aware that assistance is not immediate or guaranteed.
The Town will share further information about eligibility, application processes and timelines as soon as it becomes available.
Residents can learn more about the programs on the Province of Ontario’s website:
The Town remains committed to supporting the community throughout the recovery process, pursuing every available avenue of assistance and providing updates as new information becomes available.
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Media Contact:
Marah Minor, Corporate Communications Lead
905-468-3266 | communications@notl.com