Ontario Helping Build More Homes in Huron – Bruce

HURON – BRUCE — The Ontario government is investing a total of $12,331,672.80 to enable the construction of new homes in the Municipality of Bluewater, Town of Goderich, and the Municipality of South Bruce. The funding is being delivered through the first round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which includes $970 million to help municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

This funding will support the following Municipalities and their individual projects:

MunicipalityProjectFundingHousing Units
  Municipality of BluewaterBayfield Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion$8,347,185.00  507
  Town of GoderichIncreasing Water Supply Capacity at the Goderich Water Treatment Plant$3,218,843.75  1,750
  Municipality of South BruceKliest Street, Dietz Street and Elora Street Sanitary Sewer Upsizing  $765,644.08  559

“This funding is key to unlocking the potential of realizing more homes in Huron and Bruce,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron – Bruce. “Investing in drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities is a must in order to accommodate the demand for more housing throughout rural Ontario,” she added.

The government is also allocating an additional $250 million and accepting a second round of applications through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, bringing the province’s total investment in the fund to $1.2 billion.

“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, Ontario 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, in addition to 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.

QUOTES

“Being part of a rural council, we appreciate the province of Ontario supporting growth in our rural communities through grants like the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF),” said Paul Klopp, Mayor of the Municipality of Bluewater. “And with the help of the Minister of Rural Affairs and our MPP, Lisa Thompson, the province is putting words into action by awarding the residents of Bluewater with $8,347,185.00 through HEWSF in support of expanding the Bayfield Wastewater Treatment Facility. This funding is paramount to supporting growth in the Municipality of Bluewater and providing much needed housing for families and individuals choosing to make Bluewater home,” he added.

  • Paul Klopp, Mayor of the Municipality of Bluewater

“I am pleased that the Province of Ontario has recognized the need for an increase in supply capacity of the Goderich Water Treatment Plant by providing $3.2 million dollars in funding under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund,” said Trevor Bazinet, Mayor of the Town of Goderich. “The outcome of this project will not only enhance the Town’s water system, but it will also promote growth and enable housing in our community. On behalf of Goderich Town Council, I would like to thank the Province of Ontario and MPP Thompson for the ongoing collaboration, investment and commitment to the Town of Goderich”.

  • Trevor Bazinet, Mayor of the Town of Goderich

“We are thrilled to receive $765,644 through the province’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund,” said South Bruce Mayor, Mark Goetz. “The funding has enabled the Municipality to further local revitalization efforts by adding a potential 559 homes to the community.”

  • Mark Goetz, Mayor of the Municipality of South Bruce

QUICK FACTS

  • 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.
  • The Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program will support core infrastructure projects that help enable housing, such as roads and water infrastructure.
  • Investing in key local infrastructure through programs like the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program is part of the province’s capital plan of over $190 billion to build critical infrastructure and get more homes built faster to support growing communities and lay a strong foundation for future generations.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES