Stay updated on City services

Leaf and Yard Waste collection, Landfill and Waste Depot schedules

Residents are reminded of the 2020 schedule changes as a result of COVID-19. Leaf and Yard Waste collection will begin on May 11 with Route B. Read more

City offering digital services to seniors

Senior Services has altered its program delivery method, and citizens aged 55+ can now access programming by telephone and video conference. Read more

City provides tax relief during COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, taxpayers will have more time to pay their property tax bill if they choose. Read more

Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act update

The City and Sault Ste. Marie Police Service remind citizens that all emergency orders currently in place under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act in the province will remain in effect until at least May 6. Read more

Messages of encouragement from notable community members

As we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the City and Mayor Provenzano wanted to encourage our community through this challenge with positive messages from notable community members who many of us follow and look up to. Read more

Statement from Mayor Provenzano on confirmation of community spread

Mayor Christian Provenzano offered the following statement on the confirmation of the community spread of COVID-19 in the Algoma District. Read more

City supporting businesses through pandemic

The City is supporting local businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic by creating the Sault Together website to profile businesses that remain open. Read more

New website launched featuring COVID-19 resources

In partnership with the City, the Innovation Centre and Algoma Public Health launched an online hub featuring local COVID-19 resources and a map displaying a summary of services for facilities in the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma region. Read more

Modifications made to Transit Services

Transit Services has implemented service modifications to reflect reduced ridership demands and support social distancing efforts recommended by health experts. Read more

City outdoor playgrounds/play equipment and sports facilities closed

In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep people home, the Government of Ontario has extended associated emergency measures to include the closure of all outdoor recreational amenities. Read more

Statement from Mayor Provenzano on recent postive test results

Mayor Christian Provenzano offers the following statement on the recent positive test results for the novel coronavirus in the Algoma district. Read more

An open letter to Sault Ste. Marie from Mayor Provenzano

This is understandably a period of uncertainty and concern for our community and each of us. I recognize that people are worried about a lot of things. Read more

City launches community hotline

The City is committed to protecting the health and safety of the community and has set up a community hotline for residents to find programs and services aimed at helping those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

All City facilities closed to the public

The City is taking additional action to ensure the continued delivery of critical services while protecting the health and safety of City staff and the community. Read more

Limited public access to the Civic Centre

Public access to the Civic Centre is limited to essential business only and anyone who is ill, experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 or has travelled out of country within the last 14 days will not be permitted to enter the building. Read more

Statement from Mayor Provenzano on first case of COVID-19

Mayor Christian Provenzano offers the following statement on the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Algoma. Read more

City continues to monitor novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation

The City of Sault Ste. Marie continues to monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation closely, and appropriate measures to protect staff/residents and contain the spread of the virus will be implemented as determined necessary in consultation with oaur community partners and public health officials. Read more

Building division staff are dedicated to continuing to provide service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Civic Centre is closed to the public, staff are working remotely to maintain services including plans review, inspections, and permit issuance.

For more details about building permits, click here.

Building/by-law inquiries and service requests can be submitted by phone to 705 759-5410 or by email to [email protected].

The cemetery office is closed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note, cemetery staff remain working on site to perform interments, cremations and grounds care. For inquiries regarding grave selection/purchase please call 705-759-5336 (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

The City is asking citizens to refrain from visiting the cemetery for activities not pertaining to interments or the visiting of loved one's grave. The cemetery needs to limit its activities to interments and grounds care, and is asking for the cooperation of the public in this regard.

The Civic Centre will be closed until at least May 12 under the Province’s extended emergency mandate.

All City recreation facilities, community centres and arenas are closed to the public. This includes registered programming, drop-in programming and rentals at the Northern Community Centre, Senior Citizens' Drop-In Centre, John Rhodes Community Centre, GFL Memorial Gardens, W.J. McMeeken Centre and Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site. For booking and reservations, please contact staff at the related facilities: Northern Community Centre and Steelton Room (705-759-5489) John Rhodes Community Centre Pool and Room Booking (705-759-7309) Arenas (705-759-5383) Senior Citizens' Drop-in Centre (705-759-5441) Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site (705-759-5443)

The Economic Development and Tourism office is closed to the public. For requests for service, please call 705-759-5432. Economic Development inquires can be directed to [email protected] and Tourism inquires can be directed to [email protected].

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, taxpayers will have more time to pay their property tax bill if they choose. At its meeting on March 23, 2020, Council approved the following measures:

• Interest and penalties on property taxes due May 5, 2020 have been waived.

• Pre-authorized payments are not impacted by this measure. Canceling a pre-authorized tax payment for the May 5 tax installment must be done by May 1, 2020 at noon. Taxpayers that wish to do so are asked to complete the pre-authorized property tax payment cancellation form and submit it to the Tax department by email at [email protected]. To re-enroll in a pre-authorized payment plan, taxpayers will have to submit a new application. Please contact the City’s Tax department for assistance.

• Waived interest and penalty provisions for remittance of the Municipal Accommodations Tax is until June 30, 2020.

• Waived interest on accounts receivable is until June 30, 2020.

As the Civic Centre is currently closed to the public, you will not be able to pay your taxes at Central Collections, however, the following payment options are available:

• Use the outside drop-off box located near the front steps of the Civic Centre (cheques only, no cash)

• Mail to: Accounting & Tax Division, 99 Foster Drive, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 5X6 (cheques only, no cash)

• At most financial institutions.

• By telephone or online banking through most financial institutions. Contact your financial institution for details.

• By choosing one of our pre-authorized tax payment plans:

- Ten Month Automatic Bank Withdrawals – payments are withdrawn from your bank account on the fifth of each month (January to October).

- Due Date Tax Payment Plan – payments are withdrawn from your bank account on due dates.

Pre-authorized applications are available at: saultstemarie.ca/tax

For any further questions, please contact the Tax Department at 705-759-5290 or email [email protected].

MPAC Assessments

The Ontario government has announced that the 2020 Assessment Update has been postponed. They have indicated that property assessments for the 2021 property tax year will continue to be based on the fully phased-in January 1, 2016 current values. This means your property assessment for the 2021 property tax year will be the same as the 2020 tax year, unless there have been changes to your property.

The Legal department and the Provincial Offences office are closed to the public. Fine payments can be made online. Payments cannot be made over the phone. Damage claims can be completed online. All Freedom of Information requests with the accompanying $5 can be mailed to the Legal Department, however processing is currently postponed. For further inquiries regarding the services of the City’s Legal department, please contact 705-759-5407. For further inquiries regarding the services of the City's Provincial Offences department, please call 705-541-7334.

The City Clerk’s Department is closed to the public. Staff will process essential service requests only (i.e. cemetery and funeral orders).

Marriage licences will be issued to Algoma District residents only on an urgent basis (i.e. the week of the intended date of marriage). Applicants are encouraged to submit the completed application and supporting documents by email in advance for staff review.

Inquiries can be directed to 705-759-5388 or [email protected].

Municipal marinas and boat launches are closed until further notice. The Ministry of Transportation is providing guidance about how the declaration of a provincial emergency and closure of non-essential businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak will impact marinas in Ontario. Click here for the latest information.

The Government of Ontario has extended associated emergency measures to include the closure of all outdoor recreational amenities, such as sports fields and playgrounds, effective immediately. It includes the closure of all communal or shared, public or private, outdoor recreational amenities everywhere in Ontario.

Applications for planning approvals including Committee of Adjustment matters can be submitted either electronically or by mail. However, applications are not being scheduled for hearing at this time. Staff are available by both phone (general inquiry line: 705-759-5368) and email (general department inbox: [email protected]) to provide further information.

The City is implementing alternative methods to respond to Requests for Quotations, Requests for Tenders, and Requests for Proposals. Electronic submissions of bids and proposals are strongly encouraged. Details will appear in new documents as they are issued, and in the form of addenda for procurements presently open for submission. For the time being, Public Openings of Tenders will be suspended.

Emergency response by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services is not impacted. The Sault Police Service building and all fire halls in the city are closed to the public.

All Open-Air Burning within the municipality of Sault Ste. Marie is temporarily banned. During this ban, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services will not be renewing or issuing permits. Any individual burning during the effective ban will be subject to penalty. For more information with respect to Open-Air Burning in Sault Ste. Marie, please contact Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services at 705-949-3333.

The Public Works building is closed to the public. Service requests can be submitted by phone at 705-759-5201 or online.

The Senior Citizens' Drop-In Centre is closed to the public, and all programming at the Seniors 55+ programming at the Northern Community Centre has been cancelled.

The 2020 Summer Student Recruitment process is currently suspended until further notice. If you have any questions, please contact HR General Inquiry at: 705-759-5361.

Transit Services has implemented service modifications to reflect reduced ridership demands and support the social distancing efforts recommended by Algoma Public Health and provincial/federal governments.

These modifications are in effect beginning at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2020 until further notice:

• Sault Ste. Marie transit is to be used for essential travel only.

• Effective Wednesday, buses will operate 1-hour service leaving the terminal at 6:15 a.m. (Saturday service schedule). The last bus will leave the terminal at 11:15 p.m.

• The Community bus will leave the terminal at 6:15 a.m.

• Sunday service hours remain the same. On-Demand transit will continue to operate as normal on Sunday evenings.

• Customers are asked to board and exit buses using the rear doors only. If you have a mobility aide, or otherwise require the ramp, you can continue to use the front doors.

• Physical distancing is needed by customers and staff to ensure we continue providing public transit service to those who need it. Transit Services will be limiting the amount of passengers to 10 – 12 riders per bus. If a bus passes by, it means the driver has reached the passenger limit. Every effort will be made to deploy another bus when possible.

• Parabus clients should call 705-942-1404 to cancel any non-essential transportation.

• Anyone who is ill, experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 or has travelled out of country within the last A14 days should not be accessing Transit services.

Waste and recycling collection is not impacted. Leaf and Yard Waste collection will begin on May 11 on your waste collection day with Route B. For a complete schedule, click here.