The Ontario government has announced $26.8 million in Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) support for municipalities in Southwestern Ontario, helping to deliver critical services and address local priorities.
The 2025 funding allocation includes:
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$3,812,100 for the City of Sarnia, representing a seven per cent increase over the 2024 allocation.
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$21,545,200 for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, a 12 per cent increase.
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$1,403,400 for the Municipality of Middlesex Centre, an 18 per cent increase.
“Today’s announcement continues to demonstrate our government’s commitment to rural and Northern municipalities,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “We recognize these municipalities need predictability, so they can confidently plan and deliver projects that are important to their communities. The increased funding will help them to address local priorities.”
The OMPF is Ontario’s primary general assistance grant for municipalities and is set to grow by $100 million over two years, increasing the total funding to $600 million by 2026. In 2025, over 80 per cent of recipients will see an increase in their overall support.
“We have heard from small, Northern, and rural municipalities that they need more support to meet the financial challenges they face in delivering services to their communities, and that’s exactly what this significant increase to OMPF will help them do,” said Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. “Municipalities are critical partners in delivering important local services, and we will continue working together to build more homes, support economic growth and strengthen Ontario’s communities in a way that is sustainable and responsible.”
The enhanced funding will also benefit municipalities with limited property tax bases, enabling them to make critical investments in infrastructure and support essential services.