Ontario Investing Nearly $28 Million to Support Critical Services in Thunder Bay
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
Province increasing Ontario Municipal Partnership funding for small, rural and northern communities
News Release | April 23rd, 2026
THUNDER BAY — As part of its plan to protect small, rural and northern communities, the Ontario government is investing more than $27.8 million through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) to help support critical services such as road maintenance and public transit in the City of Thunder Bay.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates our government’s commitment to protecting rural and northern municipalities,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “Through the OMPF, we’re helping to ensure Thunder Bay has the resources it needs to address local priorities, support economic growth and improve quality of life for residents.”
OMPF funding for Thunder Bay has increased this year by almost $3.5 million. Across northwestern Ontario, the province is investing $64 million in OMPF funding in 34 communities to help support critical services.
“This investment is an important step in ensuring municipalities in Northwestern Ontario have the tools they need to plan for the future,” said the Hon. Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay–Atikokan. “Communities across the region face unique pressures, and support like this helps create the conditions for long term stability and growth. I want to thank our government for continuing to recognize the needs of the North and for supporting municipalities as they deliver for residents every day.”
In November 2024, the Ontario government announced a $100 million expansion of the OMPF over two years, bringing the total annual investment to $600 million in 2026.
The OMPF is the province’s largest funding program for small, rural and northern municipalities, including those with small property assessment bases, to help ensure comparable public services are available to residents no matter where they live in Ontario.
Quick Facts
The OMPF is a formula-based program that incorporates annual data updates to ensure the program is responsive to changing municipal circumstances.
The Ministry of Rural Affairs will hold regional Rural Summits in 2026 to further engage with rural community representatives to build on the province’s Enabling Opportunity: Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Strategy.
In addition to OMPF, municipalities can apply to the third intake of the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program beginning August 17, 2026 until October 1, 2026.
Quotes
“The increased investment through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund is welcome news for the City of Thunder Bay and our residents,” said Mayor Ken Boshcoff. “This funding will help us maintain essential services like road maintenance and emergency services while responding to the unique challenges faced by northern communities. We appreciate the province’s continued recognition of the vital role municipalities play in supporting strong, connected, and resilient communities.”
“On behalf of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, we welcome this continued investment through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund and the Province’s recognition of the unique realities facing northern and rural communities,” said Rick Dumas, President of Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA). “For municipalities like Thunder Bay and the 37 communities we represent across Northwestern Ontario, OMPF funding is essential to maintaining critical infrastructure, supporting public transit, and delivering the services residents rely on every day. We appreciate the Province’s commitment to strengthening this program and encourage continued, predictable investments that reflect the true cost of service delivery in the North. NOMA looks forward to working with our provincial partners to ensure communities have the tools they need to grow, remain resilient, and support long-term economic development.”
