Ontario Supporting Municipalities in Delivering Critical Services

Local municipalities see $861,300 increase in funding through OMPF program

October 31, 2024

BROCKVILLE — As part of its historic support of Ontario municipalities, the government is increasing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) by $100 million over two years, bringing the total funding envelope to $600 million by 2026. The OMPF is the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities.

For 2025, the OMPF will include an immediate increase of $50 million to provide $550 million in unconditional funding to 390 municipalities. The $50 million enhancement will be targeted to small, northern and rural municipalities and those with a limited property tax base. This funding will assist municipalities in providing critical municipal services to people across the province.

“Locally, the 13 municipalities in Leeds and Grenville will receive a total of $12,820,400 in OMPF funding for 2025 – an increase of $861,300 or 7.2% over last year,” said Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark.

“I’m proud that our government is continuing to provide historic support to local municipalities with this significant increase to the OMPF. This investment is critical to assisting them in delivering key services that their residents rely on,” said MPP Clark. “It’s another example of how we’re working to make our region the best place to invest, live, work, and raise a family.”

Ontario has been steadily increasing support to municipalities. From 2019–2023, key provincial support to municipalities grew by over 45 per cent. In 2023 alone, the government provided almost $10 billion to Ontario municipalities through key transfers. This includes increasing the Homelessness Prevention Program to $654 million annually, as well as enhanced support for northern and rural communities, such as the nearly $2-billion Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) program.

The province is working with municipalities to build more homes for people and families. Ontario has invested nearly $2 billion in critical housing- and community-enabling infrastructure through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, complementing support already being provided through the Building Faster Fund.

Quotes

On behalf of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, I thank Minister Bethlenfalvy for the increased investment in the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund highlighted in today’s Fall Economic Statement. This $100 million boost signifies the government’s recognition of the unique challenges faced by our 103 rural and small-urban communities. The funding will bolster essential services and also foster growth and resilience across our region.

Chair Peter Emon, Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus

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.

Mayor Robin Jones, AMO President, Mayor of 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. 

Mayor Christa Lowry, ROMA Chair, Mayor of Mississippi Mills

Quick facts

  • The OMPF is the province’s main general assistance grant that primarily supports northern and rural municipalities. OMPF funding is unconditional and can be used to support the local priorities and specific needs of each community.
  • The OMPF is a formula-based program, that incorporates annual data updates to ensure the program is responsive to changing municipal circumstances.
  • As the enhancement to the program is phased-in, all 2025 OMPF core grant recipients will receive 100 per cent or more of their 2024 OMPF allocation.
  • Beginning Winter 2025, Ontario will consult with municipalities on their priorities for the OMPF and how to implement a reporting framework to gain a better understanding of the use of funds and how the OMPF is supporting local communities.
  • Investing in key local infrastructure through programs like the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program is part of the province’s capital plan of over $190 billion to build critical infrastructure and get more homes built faster to support growing communities and lay a strong foundation for future generations.

For further information, please contact michael.jiggins@pc.ola.org