Ontario Increasing Financial Support for Huron North Shore Communities

ELLIOT LAKE — The Ontario government is providing four communities in the Lake Huron North Shore area with $14,198,500 in 2025 through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF). The OMPF is the province’s main general assistance grant to municipalities which is set to set to grow by $100 million over two years, increasing the total funding envelope to $600 million by 2026.

 

“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.”

 

Communities in the Huron North Shore region receiving an increase in Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding this year include:

• The region of Elliot Lake will be receiving $8,685,600, a six per cent increase over the 2024 allocation.

• The region of Espanola is receiving $1,937,500, an 11 per cent increase over 2024.

• The Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers is receiving $1,945,400, an 11 per cent increase over 2024.

• The Municipality of Central Manitoulin is receiving $1,630,000, a 13 per cent increase over 2024.

 

Funding will allow recipients to make critical investments and fund local priorities in their communities, which could include supporting areas with limited property assessment or investing in key local infrastructure.

 

The 2025 OMPF grant includes an immediate increase of $50 million to provide $550 million in unconditional funding to 390 municipalities. The $50 million enhancement has been targeted to small, Northern and rural municipalities and those with a limited property tax base to help them provide critical municipal services to people across the province. In 2025, the vast majority of OMPF recipients – over 80 per cent – will see an increase in their overall support through the program.

 

“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, delivered through our recent Fall Economic Statement, 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."