Ontario announces investments for water-enabling infrastructure

The Government of Ontario announced new measures to support rural communities and residents at the 2025 annual Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference.

These measures include a new Rural Economic Development Strategy, with $10 million in annual funding in a new Rural Ontario Development Program aimed at supporting economic growth, workforce capacity and business development in rural communities.

“Our government is continuing our historic investments in the success of rural Ontario because we understand how critical rural Ontario is to the success of the entire province,” said Premier Doug Ford. “After years of neglect from previous governments, we are making sure rural communities are seeing the new investments, infrastructure and homes they need to thrive and create new jobs and opportunities.”

Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, announced the government is opening applications for the $175 million Health and Safety Water Stream of the province’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) starting February 12, 2025, to ensure communities across the province have access to safe drinking water, reliable wastewater services, and are protected during extreme weather events. This funding is part of the government’s historic ongoing investments to help municipalities and First Nations preserve and increase housing supply across the province.

“Our government is working with municipalities and First Nations to ensure they have the support they need to maintain crucial water infrastructure assets and promote housing growth in their communities,” said Minister Surma. “Proper maintenance of our water and wastewater infrastructure is critical for protecting our homes and businesses and ensuring communities have access to clean drinking water. We remain dedicated to supporting municipalities and First Nations by delivering the critical infrastructure their communities need today and for generations to come.”

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Minister Surma also announced the province has completed evaluating applications for funding from the $400 million Housing-Enabling Core Servicing Stream of the MHIP and has approved 58 successful projects across 60 municipalities. These projects will help enable up to 160,000 new homes and ensure these growing communities are connected to reliable roadways. Successful recipients will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The province’s new Rural Economic Development Strategy recognizes the immense potential of our rural communities. The expanded scope and resources in the new Rural Ontario Development Program will help unlock this potential and drive local economic growth. Prosperity across the province relies on a thriving rural Ontario,” said Christa Lowry, chair, Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) and Mayor, Mississippi Mills.

Featured image: (Government of Ontario)

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