Province increasing support to municipalities by $50-million through OMPF

As part of the provincial government's plan to protect Ontario and provide historic financial support for municipalities, the province is increasing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) by $50-million, bringing the total funding to $600-million for 2026.

The funding will support 388 small, northern and rural municipalities and those with a limited property tax base, by providing critical services from public transit and libraries to emergency services and road maintenance.

“This announcement shows our government's continued commitment to protecting and supporting rural and northern municipalities in Ontario,” said Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, minister of rural affairs. “The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund plays an essential role in creating safe and strong rural communities across the province. Through the OMPF, our government is helping to ensure that rural and northern communities will receive the funds necessary to address local priorities that will allow them to thrive and grow. This investment will also have a meaningful impact locally across Huron-Bruce, in support of municipalities as they build for a sustainable future."

The OMPF is the province's main general assistance grant to municipalities. After consultation earlier this year, the additional $50-million builds on the significant increases in support that the government is providing and represents a combined 20-per-cent increase over the past two years.

“As we continue to navigate tariffs and global economic uncertainty, our government is stepping up to support Ontario's communities – including small, northern, and rural municipalities," said Ontario finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. "As we continue to protect Ontario and build our province, we will ensure municipalities have the tools they need to continue delivering critical local services to people and families in every corner of the province.”

From 2019-24, key provincial support to municipalities grew by over 45 per cent. In 2024, alone, the government provided more than $10-billion to Ontario municipalities through key transfers. This includes:
 

• An additional $1-billion through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund over five years, starting in 2022.
• Nearly $654-million, annually, through the Homelessness Prevention Program.
• Almost $380-million to help 102 municipalities improve local transit through the 2024-25 Gas Tax program.

The government's $50-million increase to the OMPF in 2026 will be spread across all four core grant components to support small, northern and rural municipalities, as well as those with a limited property tax base.

QUICK FACTS
 

• The OMPF is a formula-based program that incorporates annual data updates to ensure the program is responsive to changing municipal circumstances.
• The province is working with municipalities to support building more homes for people and families. Ontario is investing an additional $1.6-billion through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) nearly doubling the total investment to $4-billion.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 

• 2026 Municipal Partnership Fund
• 2025 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson (front, centre), Ontario minister of rural affairs, poses with municipal leaders from Bruce and Huron counties, at the announcement in Goderich; joining her, are Kincardine mayor Kenneth Craig (front, right), and Saugeen Shores mayor and Bruce County warden Luke Charbonneau (back, third from right)