Legions in Essex Receive Needed Funding | Jan 27, 2021
STATEMENT
Chris Lewis, MP Essex
Legions in Essex receive funding to offset losses during Covid-19 pandemic lock-down
Second phase of funding to come
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2021
ESSEX – I am pleased to announce that four local Royal Canadian Legions in the riding of Essex – Amherstburg, Kingsville, Lakeshore and Essex – have received funding through the Veterans Organizations Emergency Support Fund (VOESF).
Legions in small communities across our region and our nation provide invaluable community services and supports, not
just to our Canadian Forces veterans, but also to the broader community. With the pandemic shut-down, local Legions have been unable to host activities and events that provide vital income to cover their overhead costs such as rent and utilities. Revenues have declined drastically while costs have increased. Many legions were on the brink of closing permanently. Thankfully, all of the Legions in Essex remain operational.
Conservative MPs have been championing this cause for months. The emergency support fund is welcome news.
Legions are asking for $30 million dollars in support. Applications for the first phase ended December, 2020. A second round of funding opened this month.
The first phase provided $14 million to local Legions across Canada. The funds were distributed by Dominion Command and will be used to cover a range of operational items such as insurance, utilities, rent or mortgages, property taxes, and
wages.
Over half of the Legions in Ontario have received a subsidy during this first Phase. The local legions that applied, each received the maximum amount of $10, 845.05.
I was pleased to join the Royal Canadian Legion Executive in Essex to announce their funding. (see attached photo).
My deepest thanks and appreciation to all our local Legions and their dedicated volunteers for working so hard to keep your branch operational in these trying times.