Rae Announces more Funding for Rural Municipalities
[Perth-Wellington] – Today, Matthew Rae, Member of Provincial Parliament for Perth-Wellington, announced that 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.
“Our government is stepping up to provide additional support to our municipal partners, an additional $785,400 for Perth-Wellington,” said Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington. “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. From 2019–2023, key provincial support to municipalities grew by over 45 per cent. In 2023 alone, 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.
2025 OMPF funding as provided by the Ministry of Finance:
| Municipality | Additional Funding | 2025 OMPF Funding Total |
| North Perth | $ 186,900 | $ 1,867,800 |
| West Perth | $ 97,200 | $ 1,088,700 |
| Perth East | $ 112,600 | $ 1,268,600 |
| Perth South | $ 39,700 | $ 455,800 |
| St. Marys | $ 36,200 | $ 624,300 |
| Minto | $ 47,900 | $ 1,521,500 |
| Mapleton | $ 133,200 | $ 1,048,000 |
| Wellington North | $ 131,700 | $ 1,483,600 |
| Total | $ 785,400 | $ 9,358,300 |