Strong, Ont. — The Ontario government is providing more than half a million dollars to help two Northern Ontario municipalities recover from severe flooding that caused extensive damage to local infrastructure in June 2024.
The funding, announced Thursday, will deliver up to $492,000 to the Township of Strong and $63,000 to the Township of Joly through the province’s Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program. The program is designed to help municipalities cover extraordinary costs linked to natural disasters, including both emergency response and capital repairs.
Government Response
“Our government is stepping up to support our municipalities facing extensive damage due to unexpected natural disasters,” said Graydon Smith, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We’re pleased to be providing financial support to help the Township of Strong and Township of Joly repair local infrastructure and help keep people safe.”
According to the province, the money will help offset the burden of repairing culverts, rebuilding washed-out roads, and addressing other safety concerns created by sudden flash flooding that struck the area last summer.
On June 23 and 24, 2024, the region was inundated with up to 85 millimetres of rain in a matter of hours. The heavy downpour overwhelmed drainage systems, washed out key roads, and forced closures across both townships.
“We’re proud to stand with our municipal partners as they recover and rebuild,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “This funding will help ease the burden on these municipalities and ensure the safety and well-being of residents. Ontario’s MDRA program helps protect municipalities by helping to pay for extraordinary emergency response costs and damage to essential property or infrastructure that is due to a natural disaster.”
Local Impact
For local leaders, the provincial aid represents a critical lifeline after months of repair efforts strained already limited budgets.
“The flooding in June 2024 created significant challenges for our community, with damaged roads and culverts impacting residents and local services,” said Tim Bryson, Mayor of the Township of Strong. “We are grateful to the Ontario government for its financial support through the MDRA program, which will help Strong rebuild critical infrastructure and ensure the safety of our residents. This funding provides much-needed relief for our municipality as we recover from the impacts of this natural disaster.”
Neighbouring Joly Township, a small rural municipality, faced similar challenges but with fewer financial resources at hand.
“In a township like Joly, even one natural disaster can stretch our resources to the limit,” said Brian McCabe, Mayor of the Township of Joly. “This assistance makes a real difference, not only in repairing the damage from last year’s flooding, but also in giving our council and residents peace of mind that we’re not alone when challenges like this arise. I want to thank Minister Flack and Associate Minister Smith and the office staff for all that they did. The Township really appreciates it.”
Program Details
Under the MDRA program, municipalities may qualify for assistance if disaster-related expenses exceed three per cent of their own-purpose taxation levy. Eligible costs include extraordinary operating expenses tied directly to disaster response and capital expenditures for infrastructure repairs.
For Strong and Joly, meeting that threshold meant provincial backing was essential to keeping recovery efforts on track.
The Ontario government has positioned the funding as part of its broader commitment to investing in infrastructure and supporting communities facing the unexpected impacts of climate change and extreme weather. In recent years, the province has faced multiple calls for aid from municipalities contending with floods, wildfires, and storms that have strained emergency response systems.
Looking Ahead
While the funding addresses immediate recovery needs, the flooding has underscored the vulnerability of rural Ontario communities to sudden natural disasters. Municipal leaders have warned that without ongoing support for climate resilience, communities with small tax bases will continue to face disproportionate challenges in dealing with future crises.
Still, for Strong and Joly, the aid marks a significant step toward restoring stability.
By reinforcing damaged roads, repairing culverts, and addressing safety hazards, the funding is expected to help both municipalities return to normal operations and maintain essential services for residents.
