Ontario Construction News staff writer
York Regional Council has approved a submission to the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) for the North York-Durham Sewage System Expansion, positioning the project to seek funding through the $8.8 billion Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build program aimed at accelerating housing-enabling and transportation infrastructure.
The North York-Durham Sewage System Expansion (NYDSS), a provincially directed growth project authorized under the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act, 2022, is designed to increase wastewater servicing capacity across fast-growing communities in the region. Once completed, it is expected to support approximately 50,000 new homes and accommodate about 150,000 future residents across the Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket, while also strengthening the broader regional wastewater network.
Speaking on behalf of council, Eric Jolliffe highlighted the importance of the funding framework in advancing housing supply.
“On behalf of York Regional Council, I thank the Province of Ontario for its leadership in establishing the Canada-Ontario Development Charge Reduction Program,” Jolliffe said in a statement. “This program reflects a practical and innovative approach to advancing housing supply by pairing development charge relief with investments in the infrastructure needed to support growth in York Region.”
In May, council approved the updated 2026 Region-wide and Nobleton Area-Specific wastewater development charge bylaws, marking the first time in the region’s history that development charge rates were reduced across all development classes.
To qualify for the DCRP, municipalities must commit to reducing residential development charge rates by 30 to 50 per cent over three years from the rates in effect as of March 30, 2026, and provide a 10 per cent project cost contribution. That contribution would be managed through the region’s annual budget process.
“York Region is ready to do our part and continue reducing development charges, investing local dollars and advancing a shovel-ready project that will deliver meaningful housing outcomes for our residents,” said Steve Pellegrini, chair of finance and administration. “By working together with all levels of government, and with $1.74 billion funding through this program, we would have an opportunity to demonstrate how strategic infrastructure investments can unlock growth, support affordability and help achieve the province’s housing objectives.”
The submission aligns with the broader Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build program, announced earlier this year to support housing-enabling infrastructure and transit expansion across Ontario.
The NYDSS expansion is expected to proceed as part of a staged funding decision process, with submissions due Friday, June 19, 2026, and funding decisions anticipated in summer 2026. If the project does not receive the full requested allocation, regional staff are expected to report back to council with revised funding and project scope details later in the summer once program allocations are confirmed.
York Region stated it will continue collaborating with provincial and federal partners to deliver infrastructure that supports growth while maintaining long-term financial sustainability.
