Local leaders can breath a sigh of relief as the province isn’t making cuts to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.
The program is critical to help communities with financial shortfalls as well as day-to-day operations.
There were fears that funding for the program would be cut, however levels are being maintained at $500-million for 2021, the same amount as this year.
Finance Minister Rod Phillips says he wanted to notify municipalities immediately so they can plan their budgets and make decisions on where to spend the money.
Phillips adds the government has launched a review of the fund.
“These discussions are going to explore how the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund can ensure that it’s truly serving those small, northern, rural municipalities and making sure that the municipalities and communities with the most need are getting the support that they require.”
Phillips stresses local communities will be consulted on potential changes.
The program was established in 2005 to help municipalities with the cost of paying for social programs downloaded at the time by the province.
Funding allocations for 2020 and 2021:
Fort Frances: $3,294,600
Kenora: $3,100,700
Dryden: $2,361,000
Sioux Lookout: $1,476,900
Ignace: $913,000
Red Lake: $912,800
Ear Falls: $460,300
Machin: $314,700
Hudson: $137,900
We’re maintaining the $500 million Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund for 2021, while consulting on how the OMPF can best deliver results for small, rural and northern communities. #ROMA2020https://t.co/8f0bKdh5MN pic.twitter.com/659wG5Mdm0
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) January 21, 2020
