Ontario Government Invests $23 Million to Support Housing Development in London

LONDON, ON — The Ontario government has announced a significant investment of over $23 million to facilitate the construction of 17,576 new homes in the City of London. This funding marks the first round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, a $970 million initiative designed to assist municipalities in developing, repairing, and expanding critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.

Premier Doug Ford, in announcing the funding, emphasized the province’s commitment to accelerating home construction across Ontario. “We’re working with our municipal partners here in London and across Ontario to get more homes built faster,” Ford said. “With billions of dollars in investments in housing-enabling infrastructure, our government is helping get more shovels in the ground to keep the dream of homeownership alive and help families find a home that meets their needs and their budgets.”

I was thrilled to be in London this morning to announce over $23.7 million invested through the Housing-Enabling Water System Fund, which will enable the construction of more than 17,500 new homes in the city.

In London and across Ontario, we’re working with municipalities to… pic.twitter.com/y7jGakOflt

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) August 26, 2024

The City of London plans to utilize the funding to expand its wastewater infrastructure, a move critical to supporting the city’s growing population. The project involves replacing 175 metres of sanitary sewers under the Thames River and constructing new wastewater shafts, which will enhance the city’s capacity and unlock further housing opportunities. This development is expected to drive economic growth in the region.

Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, underscored the importance of these investments, noting that the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund is set to support the construction of over 511,000 new homes across the province. “Building Ontario means building more homes, and homes can’t be built without connections to drinking water and wastewater,” Surma said. “Through this project here in London, we are helping to build over 17,500 homes.”

In addition to the initial round of funding, the Ontario government has allocated an extra $250 million and is now accepting a second round of applications for the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, bringing the total provincial investment in the fund to $1.2 billion. Of this new funding, $120 million will be earmarked for small, rural, and northern municipalities, which often face unique challenges in meeting housing targets.

This investment comes as part of a broader strategy by the Ontario government to address housing shortages across the province. In this year’s budget, more than $1.8 billion was allocated to housing-enabling infrastructure, including the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program. In response to significant demand, the province has also reallocated $275 million from the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, ensuring that municipalities have the resources they need to support housing development.

This strategic infusion of funds reflects Ontario’s ongoing commitment to tackling the housing crisis by providing the necessary infrastructure to enable the construction of new homes. As London and other cities across the province continue to grow, these investments will be crucial in ensuring that housing supply keeps pace with demand, helping to maintain affordability and support economic growth.