Provincial Government increasing Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund 

Tim Brody - Editor

Good news for Municipalities, especially small, Northern and rural communities. 
The Provincial Government announced on Nov. 22 that it is increasing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) by $100 million over two years, bringing the total funding to $600 million by 2026. The OMPF is the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities.
The Provincial Government explained in a Nov. 22 media release that the 2025 OMPF grant includes an immediate increase of $50 million to provide $550 million in unconditional funding to 390 municipalities. “The $50 million enhancement has been targeted to small, Northern and rural municipalities and those with a limited property tax base, with the aim of assisting municipalities so they can provide critical municipal services to people across the province.”
“We have heard from small, Northern, and rural municipalities that they need more support to meet the financial challenges they face in delivering services to their communities and that’s exactly what this significant increase to OMPF, which is being delivered through our recent Fall Economic Statement, will help them do,” said Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. “Municipalities are critical partners in delivering important local services and we will continue working together to build more homes, support economic growth and strengthen Ontario’s communities in a way that is sustainable and responsible.”
“We will not leave any part of the province behind as we work together with our municipal partners to create stronger communities,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By increasing our infrastructure investments for small, Northern and rural municipalities, we are helping lay the groundwork for more homes for the hardworking people of Ontario.”
“Today’s announcement continues to demonstrate our government’s commitment to rural and Northern municipalities,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “We have created a stand-alone ministry dedicated to rural affairs and we are listening and taking action as well as building supports that will enable small towns and rural communities to thrive and prosper. Increased funding through the OMPF will ensure small, rural, and Northern Ontario municipalities receive additional base funding needed to address local priorities.”
“Municipal fiscal sustainability is under pressure across Ontario. AMO welcomes this enhancement to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund as an important step in addressing these challenges. We look forward to working with the province to get our communities back on track as the drivers of Ontario’s economy and quality of life,” commented Robin Jones, President, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Mayor, Westport.
“Small and Northern municipalities depend on the OMPF to deliver the services that people and businesses rely on every day. These enhancements will help rural communities to keep pace with growing needs like housing affordability, aging infrastructure and homelessness that require new approaches and resources. ROMA thanks Minister Bethlenfalvy for responding to rural municipalities’ concerns and looks forward to ongoing conversations to build sustainable, thriving communities,” stated Christa Lowry, Chair, Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), Mayor, Mississippi Mills.
“The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) is thrilled to learn of the announcement by the Minister of Finance regarding the upcoming increase to Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF). NOMA has been a long-time advocate for a permanent increase to the OMPF and we greatly appreciate that the Minister understands the importance of this fund specifically for small, rural, and Northern municipalities. These municipalities greatly rely on this funding, and the additional $50 million in 2025 and $50 million in 2026 which will amount to a total increase of $100 million over the next 2 years, will be vital to our small, rural, and Northern communities. The Minister’s commitment to create a consultation group with municipalities in the winter of 2025 to discuss OMPF shows the province is dedicated to understanding municipal needs and ensuring we can work together to guarantee this fund meets the needs of the small and rural municipalities across Northern Ontario,” commented Wendy Landry, President, Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.