Ontario Construction News staff writer
Vaughan – The Province of Ontario announced last week a $35-million investment to help build new homes in Vaughan.
“I welcome today’s announcement that the Province of Ontario is investing $35 million from the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund for vital city-building infrastructure here in Vaughan,” said Mayor Steven Del Duca. “This funding will help build more than 20,000 new homes in Vaughan to support our growing population.”
The funding is part of the first round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF), which includes $970 million to help municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate, and expand drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, according to a news release.
This project is expected to enable the construction of 20,424 housing units in Vaughan.
“Our government is committed to ensuring that our housing needs across the province are addressed, to build a better future for generations to come,” Thornhill MPP Laura Smith said at a news conference. “As the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre continues to grow and thrive, this infrastructure investment is crucial in accommodating our growing population, safeguarding our community, and stimulating economic growth.”
In this year’s budget, Ontario announced more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding through the $825-million HEWSF and the $1-billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP).
“We are in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, and this is an all-hands-on-deck moment for all leaders,” said Del Duca. “Working to make housing affordable is critically important. Attainable home ownership can’t be something we just talk about, and we simply hope someone will fix it in the future.
“We must work together with industry leaders and other levels of government to deliver on this shared goal.”