Ontario Providing Housing-Enabling Water Systems Funding

Helping Build More Homes in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound

August 14, 2024

OWEN SOUND — The Ontario government is investing $3,720,537.12 to enable the construction of new homes in Hanover and Owen Sound. The funding is being delivered through the first round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.

The following projects will receive support:

  • $1,961,875.00 – Hanover – Re-rating of the Wastewater Treatment Plant
  • $1,758,662.12 – Owen Sound – 32nd St E at East Bayshore Road – Watermain Improvements

“This round of funding will help develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure in these municipalities,” said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers. “Municipalities who would like to apply for the second round of funding can now apply by going to https://www.ontario.ca/page/housing-enabling-water-systems-fund.”

The government is allocating an additional $250 million to accept 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.”

“Re-rating Hanover’s Wastewater Treatment Plant is necessary to increase our plant’s rated capacity to support new developments in our Town,” said Town of Hanover Mayor Sue Paterson. “We are grateful for the HEWSF grant to complete our plant re-rating work including capacity analysis, plant stress testing and equipment replacement and upgrades to accommodate the increasing volume for new developments.”

“The City of Owen Sound is thankful to receive this significant funding grant through Ontario’s water infrastructure investments,” said City of Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy. “Our City remains dedicated to finding alternate sources of revenue to help alleviate tax and water ratepayers, while ensuring we have the proper infrastructure available to support and promote growth and development in Owen Sound.”

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.

QUICK FACTS

  • Details about the second application intake and eligibility is now available at https://www.ontario.ca/page/housing-enabling-water-systems-fund. 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