Ontario Investing Over $1.8 Billion to Build More Homes

New housing-enabling infrastructure funding will help municipalities get shovels in the ground

March 21, 2024

TORONTO — The Ontario government is investing more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding to help build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031. This funding includes $1 billion for the new Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and $625 million more for the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, bringing its total funding to $825 million. This new funding complements existing and ongoing provincial investments in housing- and community-enabling infrastructure, including the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund, the original $200 million investment in the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the investment of nearly $2 billion for the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund since 2021–22.

“Time and time again, I’ve heard from our municipal partners that a lack of infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to getting more homes built,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Today’s announcement of more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding, on top of the billions of dollars of infrastructure funding we’re already providing, will help get more shovels in the ground so we can keep the dream of homeownership alive in Ontario.”

The new $1 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program will support core infrastructure projects that help enable housing for growing and developing communities, such as roads and water infrastructure. This funding will help municipalities get shovels in the ground on critical infrastructure that will lay the groundwork for more homes across the province, with an emphasis on projects that can build the greatest number of homes. More information about the program, including eligibility and application intake details, will be announced later this year.

“Our government is helping municipalities get more shovels in the ground faster on the critical infrastructure needed to build more homes,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “By significantly growing our investments, we’re able to more quickly build the roads, sewers and reservoirs needed to connect new homes to the grid and help more Ontarians become homeowners.”

Ontario is more than quadrupling its investment from $200 million to $825 million over three years to expand the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which will help municipalities repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needed to build more homes. First announced in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, municipalities can still submit an application for the program until April 19, 2024.

“Our government is making targeted investments in key infrastructure projects to ensure Ontario’s communities have the roads, bridges, and water infrastructure needed to support our province’s growing population,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “With this additional funding for the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, we are helping more municipalities repair, rehabilitate, and sustain their critical infrastructure so that more homes can be built for their communities.”

Ontario is also supporting housing outcomes through its Building Faster Fund, that was announced in August 2023 to provide up to $1.2 billion over three years to reward municipalities that are building more homes. The fund is designed to help municipalities pay for critical housing- and community-enabling infrastructure needed to accommodate growth, such as site servicing and building new roads. The Building Faster Fund includes $120 million that is being reserved for small, rural and northern municipalities to help build housing-enabling infrastructure and prioritize projects that speed up the increase of housing supply.

“We have heard from many municipalities that their biggest obstacle in getting more shovels in the ground faster is infrastructure and that is why we are making this historic investment,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We are removing barriers and providing every tool we can to our municipal partners so that more homes can be built than ever before.”

The government is giving municipalities the tools they need to build more homes faster and tackle the affordability crisis that is pricing too many people, especially young families and newcomers, out of the dream of homeownership. In partnership with municipalities, Ontario will continue working hard to unlock housing opportunities and support growing communities. The province continues to call on the federal government to pay its fair share and help fund housing-enabling infrastructure investments, and support vibrant, growing communities.

“Municipal infrastructure is the foundation of Ontario’s economy and quality of life. From the water and sewer systems that enable our housing to the roads and bridges that connect our province, this critical funding will allow municipalities to support Ontario’s growth,” said Colin Best, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and Halton Regional Councillor. “AMO commends the province for this investment in Ontario’s prosperity and looks forward to working with the Ministry of Infrastructure on implementation.”

The government will provide more information on its plan to build critical infrastructure, while keeping costs down for families and businesses in the 2024 Budget, to be released on March 26.

Quick Facts

To support the future of Ontario, the government is investing $185 billion over the next 10 years in hospitals, long-term care homes, highways, public transit and other key public infrastructure.
As announced in Ontario’s 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the government is introducing additional measures to help build critical infrastructure faster and smarter. This includes the Ontario Infrastructure Bank, and the building of more rental homes by taking steps to remove the full eight per cent provincial portion of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
The three-year Building Faster Fund, announced in August 2023, supports municipalities in achieving their housing targets, including housing‐ and community-enabling infrastructure. Funding is provided to municipalities that have reached at least 80 per cent of their provincially assigned housing target for the year with increased funding for municipalities that exceed their target.

Quotes

“We are thankful that the province is listening to municipalities and working with our Mayors to address the issues we are facing in our communities to build more housing. Funding for critical infrastructure including water and wastewater, roads and bridges is necessary if we are going to achieve our housing goals. We look forward to continuing to work with the government to build thriving, complete communities across Ontario.”

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

“It’s a simple fact: to meet Ontario’s ambitious housing targets, more housing supportive infrastructure is needed. The Ford government is putting the fact into action and is making the necessary investments in water, wastewater and core infrastructure to support the building of complete communities. We applaud the government for making this investment and leading the way to get more housing built in Ontario.”

– Dave Depencier
President of the Ontario Home Builders Association