$1,232,900 in Provincial Funding Will Enable West Niagara Community to Thrive and Prosper
Photo Caption (From Left to Right): Steve Pinsonneault, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Rural Affairs; Cheryl Ganann, Mayor, Township of West Lincoln; Truper McBride, Chief Administrative Officer, Township of West Lincoln; Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
NEWS
December 16, 2024
SMITHVILLE – As part of the Ontario government's historic increase to financial support for municipalities, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, announced Friday that the Township of West Lincoln will be receiving $1,232,900 in provincial support through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.
This is a local increase of $186,700 in provincial funding, directly benefiting residents and ratepayers in West Lincoln.
MPP Oosterhoff was joined at the Municipal Offices of West Lincoln in Smithville by Steve Pinsonneault, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Rural Affairs, and Cheryl Ganann, Mayor of the Township of West Lincoln, to announce the increase in funding.
"This provincial support is critical for growing regions like Niagara - especially here in West Lincoln, a key municipality designated for future growth," said MPP Oosterhoff.
"Our government will continue to work together with our municipal partners to build more homes, support economic growth and strengthen Ontario's communities in a way that is sustainable and responsible."
"This announcement continues to demonstrate our government's commitment to rural and Northern municipalities," said MPP Pinsonneault.
"We have created a stand-alone ministry dedicated to rural affairs and we are listening and taking action, as well as building supports that will enable small towns and rural communities to thrive and prosper. Increased funding through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund will ensure small, rural and Northern Ontario municipalities receive additional base funding needed to address local priorities."
"We most definitely appreciate this funding enhancement that the province has provided to small, rural and Northern municipalities through an increase to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund," said Mayor Ganann.
"This funding is critical for our municipality which has a large rural component with high farmland percentages and a limited property tax base."
The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund supports small, rural and Northern municipalities with challenging fiscal circumstances and limited property assessment, as well as helping municipalities that are adjusting to year-over-year funding changes.
This past November, the Ontario government announced an increase of $100 million to the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, bringing the total funding envelope to $600 million by 2026.
"We have heard from rural and Northern municipalities that they need more support to meet the financial challenges they face in delivering services to their communities," said Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance.
"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."
Ontario has been steadily increasing support to municipalities. From 2019-2023, key provincial support to municipalities grew by over forty-five percent. 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 introduction of the $15 million Northern Ontario Resource Development Support program in 2021 and investment of an additional $1 billion for the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund over five years, starting in 2022.
Quick Facts:
The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund is a formula-based program that incorporates annual data updates to ensure the program is responsive to changing municipal circumstances.
As the enhancement to the program is phased-in, all core grant recipients will receive 100 percent or more of their 2024 Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund allocation in 2025.
Beginning this winter, Ontario will consult with municipalities on their priorities for the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, as well as the implementation of a reporting framework to gain a better understanding of how the fund is supporting local communities.
The province is working with municipalities to support building more homes for people and families. Ontario is investing nearly $2 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, complementing support already being provided through the Building Faster Fund.
Investing in key local infrastructure through programs like the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program is part of the province’s capital plan of more than $191 billion over ten years to build critical infrastructure and get more homes built faster to support growing communities and lay a strong foundation for future generations.
Additional Resources:
2025 Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
2024 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Building Ontario for You