Ontario Continues to Support Municipalities through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund

Province providing $500 million to support northern, rural and small municipalities

The Voice of Canada News:

Ontario is continuing to support northern, rural and small municipalities through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), which will once again provide funding of $500 million for 2024. The funding, which is unconditional, will be distributed to 390 municipalities across the province to help local priorities and specific community needs.

“Maintaining a close relationship with our municipal partners is critical as we build a strong Ontario together,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Our government recognizes the unique challenges northern, rural and small communities face. This is why the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, along with other programs, are critical in building stronger and resilient communities across the province.”

The OMPF is one part of Ontario’s overall support to municipalities, which continues to increase. The government has doubled the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and, since 2021, has introduced new supports such as the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) and the Building Faster Fund, a $1.2 billion program that supports community growth throughout the province, including in small, rural and northern communities. Ontario also recently announced that it will restore provincial annual base funding for public health units in 2024.

“As municipalities begin annual budget planning this fall, ongoing economic uncertainty threatens their ability to make informed decisions for the long-term,” said AMO President Colin Best. “Stable and predictable funding like the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund remains critical to municipal governments who remain key partners in helping to build a strong Ontario.”

Announcing municipal allocations in the fall provides municipalities with predictability ahead of their annual budget planning cycle.

Quick Facts

• The OMPF is providing $500 million to 390 of Ontario’s 444 municipalities in 2024. The funding is unconditional and can be used to support the local priorities and specific needs of each community.
• Ontario increased its annual investment in the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) by $1 billion over five years, starting in 2022. OCIF provides investment to help 425 small, rural and northern communities renew and rehabilitate roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure.
• The Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) program is providing up to $15 million annually over five years to northern municipalities to support infrastructure projects.
• Starting January 1, 2024, the Province will restore annual base funding ($47 million) for public health units to the level previously provided under the 2020 cost-share ratio.
• The Building Faster Fund will provide up to $1.2 billion over three years for municipalities that meet or exceed the housing targets they have pledged to achieve by 2031.