Town of Lincoln Council and staff continuously advocate to upper levels of government to aid in implementing key programming and policy to support economic growth and prosperity throughout our municipality.
Through the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) annual conferences, staff and Members of Council bring forth a variety of initiatives and concerns that impact the Lincoln community. Our goal is to ensure that our priorities are heard and that upper levels of government are kept informed on Lincoln’s priorities.
See below for the latest programs, policies, and changes Town Council and staff are advocating for at the 2023 ROMA Conference:
Letter to Minister Clark - Bill 23
Read the letter to Minister Clark and the Provincial government outlining the concerns specific to the impacts of Bill 23 on the Lincoln community here.
Community Museums Operating Grant (CMOG)
The Town of Lincoln is requesting that the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport consider increasing the funding envelope for the Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG). CMOG is a crucial funding program for community museums in Ontario as it funds operating expenses which support key museum functions essential to the stability and success of this sector.
In our community, improved provincial support for museum operations would result in enhanced experiences for our visitors through programs, exhibits, and events.
Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund
The Town of Lincoln is advocating to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport for the return of the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund, a funding program that ceased intake in 2018/2019. This important fund helped support sport and recreation throughout Ontario and is a vital component to healthy communities.
Provincial Funding Support
The Town of Lincoln is requesting support from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to support the proceeding on modernization services and procuring tools to enable Town staff to carryout projects and programs more effectively and efficiently. We are seeking additional funding to modernize our financial systems, upgrade our planning/permitting tools, digitize our data, streamline applications and improve customer service.
In addition to this, we also want to thank the Province for their support and funding as the Town navigated the impacts of COVID-19 throughout the past 2 years. We are again requesting that the Province consider providing support to local municipalities to cover what we believe are stunted revenue growth numbers as a direct result of COVID-19, which the Town cannot manage locally.
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Fund
The Town of Lincoln has submitted an application to the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Fund. The application is to support a library redevelopment project that will see our Moses F. Rittenhouse Library Branch re-envisioned into a full library that will support a growing community. Our Lincoln Pelham Public Library branches do not meet current guidelines for space per capita (1.0 square foot per capita) in Ontario. The Moses F. Rittenhouse Branch serves a portion of the Lincoln community that is set to expand by over 10,000 people in the next decade. This branch does not meet current AODA standards for accessibility and will require significant renovation.
A 21st century Public Library space is needed to provide a community hub and gathering place and to provide opportunities to improve digital literacy and civic engagement. The Town of Lincoln is requesting support from the Ministry of Infrastructure to move this project forward.
Skills Development Fund Round 3
The Town of Lincoln, in conjunction with our not-for-profit partner Civiconnect, has applied for funding from the Skills Development Fund to support the ongoing Youth Skills Studio program in the Town of Lincoln. This project, geared towards supporting youth and small businesses, has seen tremendous success over the past two years. We wish to continue this collaborative and innovative project and are seeking an opportunity to speak with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to discuss the merits of our application.