Haldimand County Awarded Nearly $1 Million from Ontario’s Building Faster Fund
Province rewards progress on housing targets as part of broader infrastructure push
TORONTO – Haldimand County is receiving $991,984 in provincial funding after achieving 89% of its 2024 housing target — a performance recognized under Ontario’s Building Faster Fund, a key incentive program supporting communities that advance new housing construction.
The announcement was made by Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack as part of the fund’s second round of disbursements. The nearly $1 million investment will help Haldimand build more homes and essential infrastructure, alleviating the financial burden on local taxpayers while accelerating development timelines.
“Our government has a plan to protect Ontario by reducing delays and streamlining approvals to build more homes,” said Minister Flack. “We’re partnering with Mayor Bentley and municipalities across the province to get more shovels in the ground and deliver the homes Ontario needs.”
Local Progress, Provincial Support
Haldimand County broke ground on 310 new homes in 2024, amounting to 89% of its provincial target — well above the 80% threshold needed to qualify for the Building Faster Fund.
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley welcomed the support, emphasizing its impact on local capacity and affordability.
“This investment will directly support us in delivering housing and infrastructure that is desperately needed in our community,” said Bentley. “It will also lessen the financial impact on local taxpayers.”
The funds can be used for a range of housing-enabling infrastructure projects, such as roads, sewers, water lines, and other systems necessary to support population growth.
Building Faster Fund: A Provincial Incentive Model
First launched in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, $1.2 billion initiative that rewards municipalities making measurable progress on their annual housing targets. Funding is distributed based on performance against targets and is intended to drive timely, cost-efficient housing delivery across Ontario.
The province is also extending the deadline for municipalities to spend their allocated funds to 2028, giving cities and towns greater flexibility in planning long-term infrastructure projects.
The announcement comes as Ontario continues to experience a surge in residential construction. From January to June 2025, the province recorded 9,125 rental starts, a 26.5% increase over the same period last year — the second-highest start rate ever for the first half of the year.
Legislative Backing: Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act
In tandem with financial incentives, the government is advancing legislative tools through the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, aimed at cutting red tape and aligning municipal and provincial development timelines.
These measures are part of the Ford government’s broader commitment to solving Ontario’s housing crisis by building 1.5 million homes by 2031.
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