Ontario’s Water Infrastructure Investments Helping Build More Than 500,000 New Homes

Funding includes $35 million to support nearly 47,000 new homes in Peel Region

The Voice of Canada : The Ontario government is helping enable the construction of more than 500,000 new homes across the province through the first round of investments from the province’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund. This first round will see the province invest $970 million in 54 projects across 60 municipalities to help municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. In response to the high demand for funding, the government is also allocating an additional $250 million for a second round of applications starting on August 14, bringing the total amount in the fund to $1.2 billion.

“Our government’s historic investments in infrastructure are helping to tackle Ontario’s housing supply crisis and get more homes built across the province,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The investments we are announcing today alone will help get more than half-a-million homes built, including nearly 47,000 here in Peel Region. We’re going to keep working with our municipal partners to make the dream of homeownership a reality for more families across Ontario.”

As part of the first round of funding, the province is providing the Regional Municipality of Peel with $35 million to support the expansion of the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility. This project will enable 46,784 housing units in the Region of Peel and includes the extension of water systems and installation of new features, such as an aeration tank and filtering systems. Additional projects that have been approved for funding will be announced in the coming weeks.

“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.”

In this year’s budget, the province 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 that complements 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.

“When interest rates began to soar and put significant pressure on housing starts, our government focused on making historic investments in infrastructure so that our municipal partners would have the tools in place to unleash development as soon as the Bank of Canada began cutting rates, which Premier Ford has called for repeatedly,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We have heard loud and clear that infrastructure is the number one obstacle for our partners and we will continue to do everything we can to help them build more homes faster.”

More information about the remaining funding in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, including eligibility and application intake details, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Quick Facts

• Through this first round of the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, the province’s investment includes a total of $456 million to support 30 projects in small, rural and northern municipalities without housing targets.
• Details about the second application intake and eligibility will be available at ontario.ca/watersystemsfund on August 14, 2024. The second intake will provide an additional $250 million in funding.
• Investing in key local infrastructure through programs like the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund is part of the province’s capital plan of over $190 billion to build critical infrastructure and build at least 1.5 million homes to support growing communities and lay a strong foundation for future generations.
• Ontario is also providing municipalities improved and flexible borrowing terms for housing-enabling water projects under Infrastructure Ontario’s loan program. This new lending stream would build on the valued financing Infrastructure Ontario already provides to many municipal partners and would provide them with options for deferred interest payments until projects are substantially complete, longer loan terms, more flexible repayment terms and lower administration costs.

Quotes

“The Government of Ontario is glad to announce a significant investment of $35 million into the expansion of the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility in the Region of Peel. This vital initiative addresses the essential infrastructure needs of our rapidly growing population and supports the creation of over 46,000 new housing units. The enhancements, including the new aeration tank and advanced filtering systems, are critical to ensuring that our water systems can sustain our community’s growth and enhance the quality of life for all residents. This project stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainable development and the future prosperity of the Peel Region.”

• Amarjot Sandhu
  MPP, Brampton West

“We have heard from many stakeholders about the importance of this wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater management is critical to ensuring our region is able to continue accommodating new growth while maintaining existing systems. So, it is great to see this investment which will allow more homes to be built faster here in Mississauga.”

• Sheref Sabawy
  MPP, Mississauga-Erin Mills

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government continues to make record investments to build vital infrastructure to support communities across the province. This expansion to municipal water infrastructure will allow more homes to be built in growing communities like Dufferin-Caledon and ensure a strong foundation for years to come.”

• Sylvia Jones
  MPP, Dufferin-Caledon

“As Peel continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in our country, we must invest in the infrastructure needed to support our community. The expansion of the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility will ensure residents and newcomers have access to quality water they deserve now and for generations to come.”

• Prabmeet Sarkaria
  MPP, Brampton South

“The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund is a vital step towards ensuring sustainable growth and enhancing the quality of life for our communities. By investing in critical infrastructure, we are not only safeguarding public health and protecting our environment, but also unlocking new housing opportunities and fostering economic growth for our province’s future.”

• Nina Tangri
  MPP, Mississauga-Streetsville

“Peel is one of the fastest growing regions in North America and new water and wastewater infrastructure is critical to support this growth. Our government’s commitment of $35 million to expand and improve the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility will help get shovels in the ground to build over 46,000 new homes, including our new waterfront communities of Brightwater and Lakeview Village. Together with Mayor Parrish and our partners at the Region of Peel, we’re ensuring that more families can achieve the dream of homeownership in Mississauga, and across Ontario.”

• Rudy Cuzzetto
  MPP, Mississauga-Lakeshore

“As Ontario faces a housing supply crisis, our government is committed to using all the tools at our disposal to build more homes. By enabling over 46,000 new housing units across Peel Region, we are committed to ensuring that everyone can achieve the dream of home ownership.”

• Graham McGregor
  MPP, Brampton North

“Expanding the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility will help us to build more homes and support Peel Region’s growing population. This is fantastic news for residents in Mississauga and across Peel Region.”

• Natalia Kusendova-Bashta
  MPP, Mississauga Centre

“Peel Region welcomes the Government of Ontario’s $35 million dollar investment in G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility, as part of the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Funding announced today. G.E. Booth currently processes an average of 518 ML of wastewater per day. Earlier this year, Peel Region council approved an investment of $130 million to increase flow capacity. The province’s additional investment in G.E. Booth will help achieve our goal of increasing wastewater capacity by 40 million litres per day. This increased flow capacity will support the province’s goal of helping build more homes, including up to an additional 47, 000 housing units in Peel Region.”

• Nando Iannicca
  Peel Regional Chair & CEO

“These important provincial investments mean that municipalities big and small across Ontario can build the water and wastewater projects needed to support housing. New housing requires funding for municipal infrastructure. The investments are a critical part of progress towards Ontario’s ambitious housing targets.”

• Colin Best
  Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) President, Halton Regional Councillor

“Ontario’s Big City Mayors applaud today’s announcement on the first round of municipal projects to receive the province’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and are excited to see how it will assist municipalities in repairing, rehabilitating and expanding critical drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure – issues championed by OBCM. We pleased to see the province heard our concerns about water infrastructure funding being a significant barrier in getting housing built and we are eagerly anticipating the second round of application intake. OBCM looks forward to continuing to collaborate closely with provincial partners to deliver on our shared commitment to accessible, resilient housing and essential services for all.”

• Marianne Meed Ward
  Mayor of Burlington, Chair of Ontario’s Big City Mayors

“RCCAO welcomes the Government of Ontario’s timely action in advancing the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund. Recent flooding across the GTA underscores the real need for robust investment to upgrade aging water infrastructure and support sustainable growth across the region. This funding is essential to help facilitate more housing in Ontario, mitigate future risks and maintain the smooth operation of our critical infrastructure as the province grows. Our members commend Premier Ford and Minister Surma’s continued leadership in prioritizing water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.”

• Nadia Todorova
  Executive Director, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO)

“RESCON supports the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund which focuses on building the critical infrastructure required to support the new construction of much needed low, mid and high-rise residential units. By investing in drinking water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, Premier Ford and Minister Surma are laying the foundations needed to provide housing for all Ontarians.”

• Richard Lyall
  President of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON)

“The Ontario Home Builder’s Association commends Premier Ford, Minister Surma and the Ontario government on this first round of investments from the province’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the additional $250 million for a second round of applications. OHBA is very pleased that the government is providing direct financial support to municipalities to enable the shovel-ready land required to build houses that families can afford. This action by the Ontario government is the right approach and will get us closer to the target of 1.5 million new homes built by 2031.”

• Scott Andison
  Chief Executive Officer, The Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA)

“BILD supports and applauds today’s Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund announcement. Investments in the expansion of water and wastewater systems are critical to the growth of our region. These investments are literally the foundation of our ability to support housing and employment growth in Mississauga and throughout the GTA. The province’s investment is vital to our future economic well-being and ability to service land required to build housing.”

• Dave Wilkes
  President and CEO, Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD)

“The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association applauds Doug Ford and the Ontario government’s continued commitment to building the critical water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure that is needed to address the growth-related pressures on our municipal systems and help build more homes across the province.”

• Patrick McManus
  Executive Director, The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association