The Ontario government is increasing its support for municipalities by adding $50 million to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), raising the total to $600 million for 2026.
The funding will help 388 small, northern, and rural municipalities across the province. It supports key local services such as public transit, libraries, emergency response, and road maintenance, especially in communities with a smaller property tax base.
Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs, said the increase shows the province’s ongoing commitment to helping rural and northern Ontario. “Through the OMPF, our government is helping ensure that rural and remote northern communities receive the funds they need to thrive and grow,” she said.
The OMPF is the province’s main grant program for municipalities. The $50 million boost follows earlier consultations and marks a 20 per cent increase in support over the past two years.
From 2019 to 2024, Ontario’s overall support for municipalities grew by more than 45 per cent. In 2024 alone, over $10 billion in funding was provided through various programs, including $1 billion through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund, $654 million for the Homelessness Prevention Program, and nearly $380 million for local transit through the Gas Tax program.