This release is being shared on behalf of the office of MPP Brian Saunderson.
THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, ON — Today, Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey announced that the Ontario government is investing $25,397,523.99 to enable the construction of new homes in the Town of the Blue Mountains. The funding is being delivered through the first round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which includes $970 million to help municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
This funding will support Wastewater System Upgrades and Rehabilitation and will enable 2,078 units in the Town of the Blue Mountains.
“Simcoe-Grey is growing, and we know a major piece to responsible and sustainable growth is infrastructure,” said MPP Brian Saunderson. This funding will allow the Town of the Blue Mountains to create critical housing for hundreds of families and people who want to make this beautiful part of Ontario home.”
The government is also allocating an additional $250 million and accepting a second round of applications through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, bringing the province’s total investment in the fund to $1.2 billion.
“By investing in drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities and connecting pipes to land, we are helping municipalities build more homes,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “Homes can’t be built without connections to drinking water and wastewater.”
“I would like to extend gratitude to the Province of Ontario for the generous support through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund,” stated Mayor Andrea Matrosovs. “This funding is critical for completing this important project, which includes upgrades to the Mill Street Sewage Pump Station and the Craigleith Sewage Lift Station. This project will significantly increase our wastewater storage and pumping capacity which will support over 2,000 new housing units. This investment is crucial for meeting the demands of our growing population and ensuring the continued vitality and sustainability of our community.”
In this year’s budget, Ontario announced more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding through the $825 million Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the $1 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, in addition to funding announced previously through the province’s Building Faster Fund. In response to the significant demand for investments in water and wastewater infrastructure to enable the construction of more homes, and after consulting with municipalities, the province is transferring $275 million from the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund in order to meet this demand. In addition, the $120 million from the Building Faster Fund that was reserved for small, rural and northern communities is being flowed to these communities through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.
QUICK FACTS
- Details about the second application intake can be found at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/housing-enabling-water-systems-fund
- The second intake is now open and will provide an additional $250 million in funding.
- The Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program will support core infrastructure projects that help enable housing, such as roads and water infrastructure.
- 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 over $190 billion to build critical infrastructure and get more homes built faster to support growing communities and lay a strong foundation for future generations.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund
- Ontario Investing Over $1.8 Billion to Build More Homes
- Ontario Builds: our infrastructure plan
A video of the announcement is available on the Town's YouTube page.
