Photo Provided
The Ontario government is investing nearly $40 million to improve water infrastructure in five Huron-Bruce municipalities. This funding will help support the construction of nearly 5,000 new homes across the region.
The $39,448,926 investment is being delivered through the province’s Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which is part of the broader Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program. The goal is to help municipalities build the essential infrastructure needed to support more housing.
Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce, welcomed the announcement, calling it “tremendous news” for local communities. She said that by investing in critical water infrastructure, the government is helping to create new housing opportunities, attract new residents, support families, and strengthen vibrant local communities.
Several projects are receiving support through this funding. In Huron East, more than $12.8 million is going toward the expansion of the Seaforth Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will support up to 962 new homes. The Town of Saugeen Shores is receiving nearly $18 million for upgrades to the Southampton Water Pollution Control Plant, enabling up to 1,634 new homes. South Huron will use $5.4 million to build a new sanitary sewer along London Road South, supporting up to 2,100 homes. The Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh is receiving just over $2.1 million to expand drinking water services in the Century Heights area, making room for up to 156 new homes. Central Huron will receive $1.2 million for infrastructure upgrades on King Street, which will support up to 122 new homes.
This new round of funding brings the total number of homes supported by the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to about 800,000 across Ontario. It is part of the government’s larger $200 billion capital plan to improve public infrastructure such as transit, highways, hospitals, and schools.
Thompson also pointed out that this year’s investment builds on support announced in August 2024, when the government funded several other water projects in the region. That earlier funding included $8.3 million for the Municipality of Bluewater to expand the Bayfield Wastewater Treatment Facility, enabling 507 new homes. The Town of Goderich received $3.2 million to increase water capacity at its treatment plant, supporting up to 1,750 homes. The Municipality of South Bruce was awarded over $765,000 to upgrade sanitary sewers on Kliest Street, Dietz Street, and Elora Street, allowing for 559 new homes.
The province is also supporting agricultural infrastructure with a separate $82 million investment through the new Agriculture and Irrigation Stream. This includes $41 million for Niagara Region to build a pipeline that will supply irrigation water to farms and $41 million for Leamington to expand wastewater services to support greenhouse farming.
In addition to these funding streams, municipalities can apply for support through the Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program, which offers up to $1 billion in flexible loans for water infrastructure projects that help enable new housing.
These investments reflect the province’s commitment to building strong, growing communities and supporting the infrastructure needed to make housing more accessible to Ontarians.