The province is providing up to $9,931,000 in funding to support ice storm recovery efforts across the Peterborough-Kawartha region.
The funding is part of the province’s $90-million Municipal Ice Storm Assistance program, created to help municipalities cover clean-up and emergency response costs related to a severe winter storm that struck parts of central and eastern Ontario on March 28th, 2025.
MPP Dave Smith said the storm placed significant pressure on families, businesses and municipal services throughout the region.
“The ice storm of March 2025 was one of the most significant weather events our region has ever faced,” Smith said. “While the damage to our tree canopy and power grid was extensive, the spirit of our community remained unbroken.”
Smith said the provincial funding will help local municipalities recover without placing additional financial strain on taxpayers.
The March 2025 storm brought more than 30 hours of freezing rain and 20 to 25 millimetres of ice accumulation, resulting in widespread damage. Nearly 400,000 homes and businesses across central and eastern Ontario lost power, with some rural residents in the Peterborough and Kawarthas area without electricity for more than a week.
Municipal officials in the region declared a state of emergency as thousands of trees were downed and hydro lines were damaged.
Funding allocations for municipalities in the region include:
$7,950,000 for Peterborough
$676,000 for Peterborough County
$503,000 for Trent Lakes
$373,000 for Selwyn Township
$301,000 for Douro-Dummer
$79,000 for Havelock-Belmont-Methuen
$49,000 for North Kawartha
Rob Flack said the province remains committed to helping communities recover from extreme weather events.
“Our government will always protect Ontario, especially in times of need,” Flack said. “The relief being announced today will safeguard local jobs and help Peterborough-Kawartha rebuild stronger than ever.”
The province launched both the Municipal Ice Storm Assistance program and a Business Ice Storm Assistance program in June 2025 to support communities and businesses affected by the storm.
