Tudor and Cashel Township council has approved a recommendation to apply for provincial funding under Ontario’s Municipal Ice Storm Assistance (MISA) Program, seeking to recover costs from the March 28 storm that affected infrastructure and services.
During the July 8 council meeting, chief administrative officer Nancy Carrol presented a report detailing the storm’s impact, including damage to roads, hydro lines and public infrastructure. The report also outlined estimated cleanup and emergency response costs, which form the basis of the township’s application to the program.
Council supported Carrol’s recommendation, allowing staff to submit an expression of interest by July 28, followed by a full application due Oct. 31.
According to Carrol, the March storm resulted in road blockages caused by fallen trees and debris, hazardous travel conditions due to persistent ice, and damage to hydro lines that triggered emergency response measures. The township’s estimated expenses include $37,000 for contracted fire and tree removal services, $7,198.34 in equipment usage, and $15,500 for additional material processing.
“These costs will contribute to the total claim for assistance under the MISA program,” Carrol wrote in her report.
The MISA program provides one-time funding to municipalities for unbudgeted costs linked to the March 2025 ice storm. Eligible expenses include operating and capital costs needed to protect public safety or repair infrastructure, provided they are not covered by insurance or unrelated to the storm.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) will review applications, with final funding decisions made by the minister. Approved municipalities will enter into a transfer payment agreement with the province.
Council also passed a resolution authorising Carrol to verify and submit the application. The resolution stated that the township has eligible storm-related costs and formally requested funding under the program.
Carrol also explained the MISA cost-sharing formula, which is based on a municipality’s Own-Purpose Taxation (OPT) levy. Under the sliding scale model, the province would fund 75% of storm-related costs up to 3% of a municipality’s OPT. Costs beyond that threshold would be funded at 95%, with the remaining amount covered by the municipality.
“The sliding scale model ensures that the MISA funding is distributed in a way that is equitable to all municipalities, considering their respective financial capacities,” Carrol stated in her report.
Next steps include filing the expression of interest and completing the application by the deadline. The township will also continue recovery efforts, including debris clearing, equipment use, and material processing.
In a follow-up comment to The Bancroft Times, Carrol said she appreciated council’s support and confirmed the expression of interest would be submitted this month. Based on provincial timelines, funding decisions are expected in 2026.
