Ontario Investing in Community Safety and Critical Water Infrastructure in Huron County

January 30, 2026

NEWS                                                                                                         

HURON COUNTY — The Ontario government is protecting local communities by investing in firefighter safety, community well-being, and critical municipal water infrastructure in Huron County through the province’s Fire Protection Grant, the Community Safety and Policing Grant, and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) – Health and Safety Water Stream.

“These investments reflect our government’s commitment to Protect Ontario by keeping communities safe, protecting the health of our firefighters, and ensuring municipalities have the modern water and wastewater infrastructure they need to grow,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. “From protective gear and decontamination equipment to major water and wastewater upgrades, this funding will make a real difference for families in Huron County.”

Fire Protection Grant

The Municipality of Central Huron will receive $19,626.05 through the Fire Protection Grant to purchase 10 sets of Innotex Energy bunker gear. This modern protective equipment will help safeguard firefighters from long-term health risks associated with exposure to carcinogens during fire suppression and emergency response activities.

The Municipality of South Huron will receive $32,000 through the Fire Protection Grant for the purchase and installation of an equipment decontamination washer, enhancing firefighter safety by reducing exposure to harmful contaminants.

The Township of North Huron will receive $36,223.56 through the Fire Protection Grant to purchase 44 sets of dual-certified turnout gear, providing firefighters with modern, compliant protective equipment.

Community Safety and Policing Grant

The Township of North Huron will receive $88,977 through the Community Safety and Policing Grant to support the Huron Initiative for Safe and Supported Communities, which focuses on crime prevention, community safety, and collaborative local solutions.

Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) – Health and Safety Water Stream (HSWS)

The Municipality of Central Huron will receive $423,477 through the MHIP – Health and Safety Water Stream to support the Dundas Water System Expansion and Upgrade, improving system reliability and capacity for the community.

The Municipality of South Huron will receive $4,240,052 through the MHIP – Health and Safety Water Stream to support Exeter Sewage Lagoon upgrades and associated projects, ensuring safe and reliable wastewater infrastructure to meet current and future needs.

The Township of North Huron will receive $3,522,250 through the MHIP – Health and Safety Water Stream for the rehabilitation of the Blyth Treatment Plant effluent filter and UV system, strengthening water treatment operations and public health protections.

The announcements for these three municipalities in Huron County is part of the province’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream (MHIP-HSWS) which has increased by $700 million to help 127 municipalities and First Nations upgrade and expand aging water infrastructure.

QUICK FACTS

• In August 2025, Ontario increased the MHIP to $4 billion to speed up construction of homes and core infrastructure, such as roads and water systems. Since its launch in 2024, the MHIP has made about 800,000 more new homes possible.

• The MHIP is comprised of four funding streams: the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF), the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing (HECS) Stream, the Health and Safety Water Stream (HSWS) and the Agriculture and Irrigation Stream.

• In January 2025, Ontario announced an initial investment of $175 million to launch the HSWS.

• Earlier in the year of 2025, our government announced that we are doubling the investment in the Fire Protection Grant—from $10 million in its first year to $20 million in year two.