Toronto: The Ontario government is providing municipalities with $500 million through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF).
The province is maintaining the overall structure of the fund, keeping a commitment made at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario annual conference in August 2020.
Municipalities are being informed of their specific 2021 funding allocations today, which will provide much needed stability and support.
The OMPF is the Province’s main general assistance grant, used to support the local priorities and specific needs of 389 municipalities, with a special emphasis on northern and rural communities.
The 2021 OMPF is also providing a $5 million enhancement to further support northern and rural municipalities. This includes a $3 million increase to the Northern and Rural Fiscal Circumstances Grant to provide additional support to those dealing with fiscal challenges and a $2 million increase to the Rural Communities Grant to further support rural municipalities with the highest levels of farmland.
Maintaining the existing funding envelope and structure of the OMPF program for 2021 fulfills a commitment made by Premier Doug Ford during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s conference in August 2020.
• The OMPF is targeting funding to those facing difficult fiscal circumstances The program also supports areas with limited property assessment. Ontario, in partnership with the federal government, is providing up to $4 billion in one-time assistance to Ontario’s municipalities.