Ontario government announces new investments in housing related infrastructure funding

DAN CEARNS The Standard

DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: The Ontario government is making new investments, to try to get more housing built across the province, including the creation of a new program and increased investments in existing ones.

On Thursday, March 21st, Ontario government officials announced the provincial government is investing $1.8 billion in housing related funding. The biggest chunk of the funding, $1 billion, is going towards a new program known as the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program.

“The new $1 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program will support core infrastructure projects which help enable housing for growing and developing communities, such as roads and water infrastructure. This funding will help municipalities get shovels in the ground [for] critical infrastructure which will lay the groundwork for more homes across the province, with an emphasis on projects which can build the greatest number of homes. More information about the program, including eligibility and application intake details, will be announced later this year,” an Ontario government press release stated.

The other funding sees an increase of $625 million towards the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund which builds on the government’s original $200 million investment in the program.

The press release explained, this program helps “municipalities repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needed to build more homes.”

“Our economy and population have grown, and we have more people coming into our province to find jobs [and] start a family than ever before,” MPP and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said.

Premier Doug Ford explained how working with municipalities is key for the province to get to their goal of having at least 1.5 million homes built by 2031.

“I believe in collaboration. I believe in working together. I believe in Team Ontario. Without municipalities, this doesn’t happen, and municipalities know their communities best,” the Premier stated. “They know where it makes sense to build homes and where it doesn’t. They also know barriers they face getting shovels in the ground. And when I talk to Mayors and Councillors, I hear time and time again, lack of infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to getting more homes built.”