Ontario Construction News staff writer
ORANGEVILLE — The Ontario government is providing $8.1 million to upgrade water infrastructure in the Town of Orangeville, a move officials say will support the construction of more than 3,000 new homes.
The funding comes through the province’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, part of the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program.
“Our government’s investment in the Town of Orangeville’s water infrastructure is a key step toward unlocking more housing, creating good jobs, and supporting the long-term growth of our community,” said Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon. “By laying the foundation for new homes, we are helping ensure Orangeville remains a vibrant and welcoming place for families to live, work, and thrive.”
The town plans to use the funding to upgrade water supplies to enable the construction of approximately 3,000 homes, which officials say will boost local economic growth.
“We are grateful to the province for this significant investment in Orangeville’s future,” said Mayor Lisa Post. “This funding will allow us to move forward critical water infrastructure projects, which is the foundation on which new housing, job creation, and economic growth are built. By unlocking access to additional water supply, we can focus on allocation for development to help address housing needs, attract new businesses, and strengthen our local economy, all while ensuring reliable water services for generations to come.”
Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, said the funding is part of Ontario’s broader plan to build and protect communities amid economic uncertainty.
“With our additional investments in the MHIP, we’re unlocking more housing and building critical infrastructure that will protect communities, keep workers on the job, and lay the groundwork for a stronger economy,” Surma said.
This round of funding brings the total number of homes enabled in Ontario through the program to about 800,000. The province’s more than $200 billion capital plan includes investments in transit, highways, hospitals, schools, and other public infrastructure.
The MHIP has four funding streams: Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF), Housing-Enabling Core Servicing Stream (HECS), Health and Safety Water Stream (HSWS), and Agriculture and Irrigation Stream. HEWSF was recently consolidated under MHIP to improve program delivery.
Municipalities can also access $1 billion in flexible loans for housing-enabling water infrastructure projects through the Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program.
