WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Ontario 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.
Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced the increased funding on Nov. 4.
“Our government is stepping up to provide additional support to our municipal partners, an additional $785,400 for Perth-Wellington,” Rae said.
Minto will receive $47,900 in additional funding, bringing the town’s total OMPF funding in 2025 to $1,521,500.
In Mapleton, OMPF funding will increase by $133,200 in 2025, bringing the total to $1,048,000.
Wellington North’s funding will increase by $131,700 in 2025, bringing the township’s total OMPF funding for the year to $1,483,600.
“Our rural municipalities will benefit from this additional funding, allowing us to continue building stronger and safer communities together.”
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.
“Ontario has been steadily increasing support to municipalities,” states a press release about the announcement.
From 2019 to 2023, key provincial support to municipalities grew by over 45 per cent.
In 2023, 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).
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.
