Premier Doug Ford Allocates $220 Million for Municipal Water and Wastewater Housing Infrastructure

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra announced on Monday the distribution of $220 million in provincial grants from the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) to expand drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater treatment capacities across twenty high-growth municipalities.

The funding directly addresses the primary bottleneck preventing homebuilders from initiating construction on approved subdivisions—insufficient municipal trunk watermains, sewage treatment plant capacities, and stormwater retention ponds.

Unlocking Shovel-Ready Residential Housing Provincial housing officials estimate that the $220 million investment will enable the immediate servicing and construction of more than 80,000 planned single-family homes, townhouses, and mid-rise apartment units across the Greater Golden Horseshoe, eastern Ontario, and southwestern regions.

"You cannot build homes without water in the pipes and shovels in the ground," Premier Doug Ford said during an announcement in Barrie. "Municipalities across Ontario have thousands of housing units approved on paper, but they were stuck waiting for the funding to build water treatment plants and sewer lines. Our government is stepping up with $220 million to get those pipes in the ground so builders can start constructing homes for young families and newcomers."

Municipal Grant Recipients Major grant allocations include:

• City of Barrie: $24 million for the Lake Simcoe Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion.
• City of Ottawa: $22 million for South Nepean and Kanata trunk sewer extensions.
• Region of Waterloo: $18 million for regional groundwater wellfield expansion.
• City of Brantford: $16 million for the Grand River stormwater retention facility.
• Region of Durham: $15 million for Seaton community watermain construction.
• Fifteen additional growing municipalities receiving between $5 million and $12 million.

Mayors from across Ontario and the Ontario Home Builders' Association (OHBA) commended the targeted infrastructure funding, emphasizing that provincial capital grants prevent municipal property tax spikes and reduce development charges on new home construction.