Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is accepting applications for funding under the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing stream of its Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program.
Up to $400 million is available through the stream for municipalities to build, maintain, and repair core assets such as municipal roads, bridges and culverts to support the construction of new homes.
“With the province’s population growing faster than ever before, our government is using every tool available to get shovels in the ground to quickly deliver Ontario’s Plan to Build,” added Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “These investments show that we can build the critical infrastructure to help more Ontarians achieve the dream of home ownership while also ensuring a strong fiscal foundation for future generations.”
Eligible projects include net new, rehabilitation, repair, reconstruction, or replacement of road and bridge assets that facilitate housing infrastructure and community growth. Detailed information about the program and application procedures can be found at ontario.ca/housinginfrastructure.
Remaining funds will address other critical infrastructure priorities, such as local water and wastewater systems. Further details on this portion of the funding, including application processes, will be announced later this year.
“We are ensuring that, even though high interest rates and global uncertainty have impacted housing starts, we are laying the groundwork for a long-term building boom as economic circumstances improve,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Our focus is on providing municipalities with the tools they need to build more homes faster, whether through maintaining roads and bridges or upgrading water systems.”
Also, the second intake of the $1.2-billion Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund offers $1.9 billion in provincial funding for critical housing and community-enabling infrastructure. This is part of Ontario’s broader capital plan of over $190 billion to support infrastructure and community growth.
The first intake of the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund saw $970 million invested in 54 projects across 60 municipalities, enabling the development of over 500,000 new housing units.
The deadline for the second intake of the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund is Nov. 1. More information is available at ontario.ca/watersystemsfund.
“AMO thanks the Ontario government for its leadership in making historic investments of nearly $2 billion towards housing-enabling infrastructure,” said Colin Best, President of the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO). “Municipalities are planning for infrastructure expenditures of more than $250 billion over the next 10 years. This funding is welcome as it will help pave the way to increase housing supply, support growth, and strengthen the economy.”
For more details on how to apply and eligibility criteria, visit ontario.ca/housinginfrastructure.