Ontario Helping Build More Homes in the City of Orillia

The Ontario government is investing over $10 million to enable the construction of new homes in the City of Orillia. 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.

The funding will support the City of Orillia’s construction of the replacement water standpipe at the Harvie Hill Reservoir. This project will enable 3,554 housing units in the City of Orillia.

“We are grateful to the provincial government for their substantial investment in our city. As Orillia continues to grow, it is essential that our infrastructure evolves to meet our expanding housing demand,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “This funding will assist with the construction of a replacement water standpipe, providing the additional capacity needed to ensure our community’s water system remains robust and reliable both now and in the future.”

“I am elated to join the City of Orillia leaders at the Harvie Hill Reservoir today to announce the $10,599,580 in Housing-Enabling Water System Funds that are being allocated to the City of Orillia,” said Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North. “This significant investment will allow the city to expand its infrastructure to support new housing developments, ensuring that water systems are in place for future growth. This funding is crucial for meeting the city’s long-term housing needs and fostering community development, and together, we’re paving the way for a stronger, more vibrant Orillia.”
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.”

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.