The provincial government is once again increasing the support available for small, northern, and rural municipalities through its Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF).
On Friday, Minister of Rural Affairs and Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson announced the province is increasing the OMPF by $50 million, bringing the total funding to $600 million for 2026.
Thompson said the increase comes after consultation earlier this year and builds off of last year's $50 million increase, a combined 20 per cent boost to the fund over the last two years.
"It's a historic number and it demonstrates that by the way of leadership through Premier Ford, Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and ourselves at the local level, we're standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our rural, small town communities," she said.
The OMPF is the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities, which is divided between 388 small, northern, and rural municipalities, including almost every town in this region.
Thompson said its a way of evening the playing field.
"Let's be real, small town, rural, northern municipalities just don't have the same tax base as larger municipalities. In order to make sure these communities are having their local priorities addressed, this funding is very important. I can tell you the municipalities that were present today from across Huron and Bruce, were absolutely delighted."
Thompson added that the fund gives those municipalities certainty as they navigate the budgeting process for 2026.
A full breakdown of the local allocations will be released next week.
