Ontario Helping Build More Homes in York Region

$139 Million in water infrastructure funding will help enable 8000 new homes

September 13, 2024

EAST GWILLIMBURY — The Ontario government is investing $139 million to enable the construction of 8000 new homes in York-Durham. The funding is being delivered through the first round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which includes $970 million to help municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

This funding will support the North YDSS (York Durham Sewage System) Expansion. This project will provide residents with an increased capacity for wastewater treatment, keeping people safe and healthy for generations to come. Additionally, it will support future housing growth by enabling the infrastructure necessary for new developments across Northern York Region including the municipalities of Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket.

“The York Durham Sewage System expansion is exactly the solution needed to enable the building of more homes faster in northern York Region,” said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe. “This historic investment of over $139 million will help protect Lake Simcoe from harmful discharge while bringing us closer to our goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031.”

“We live in one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket—Aurora. “I’m proud of the investment our government is making in this critical infrastructure project as it is a paramount piece of the puzzle to get more homes built faster.”

The government is also allocating an additional $250 million and accepting 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.”

“On behalf of The Regional Municipality of York and York Regional Council, I welcome the Ontario government’s historic investment in the York Durham Sewage System North Expansion,” said Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO of the Regional Municipality of York. “This critical wastewater infrastructure adds servicing capacity and enables 8,000 new homes in the Towns of Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket, supporting accelerated growth in York Region. Investments support new or expanded wastewater sewers, pumping stations and enhancements, along with strengthening our wastewater system and building resilience for the future.”

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 will be available at ontario.ca/watersystemsfund on August 14, 2024. 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

­­­­­­

MEDIA CONTACTS

Marisa Patricelli

Constituency Manager | Executive Assistant

Caroline Mulroney, MPP York-Simcoe

marisa.patricelli@pc.ola.org

Nadia Hansen

Constituency Scheduler, Stakeholder Relations, Event Manager

Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP Newmarket-Aurora

nadia.hansen@pc.ola.org