Friday, March 22, 2024 – The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) welcomes today’s announcement that the Ontario government is investing more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure funding to help build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031.

“Ottawa desperately needs new infrastructure to support home building for its growing population,” said Patrick Daniels of Glenview Homes, the President of GOHBA. “The Ministry of Finance projects that Ottawa will grow by 650,000 people by 2046. This significant infrastructure investment is critical if we want enough service capacity to support the housing growth our future population will need.”

As part of its 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the provincial government originally announced a new Housing-Enabling Water Systems Infrastructure Fund to repair, rehabilitate and expand water, wastewater and stormwater projects that promote growth and enable housing development, a GOHBA recommendation during last year’s pre-budget consultations.

As part of today’s announcement, the government is quadrupling that fund from $200 million to $825 million.

“We are very pleased the government has taken this step. Without this kind of necessary infrastructure funding, there will be little positive impact on housing affordability in the areas the city has identified for growth,” said Jason Burggraaf, the Executive Director of GOHBA. “If we don’t have sufficient service capacity for things like sewers and stormwater, then intensification will not produce more affordable homes because there will be significant costs to upgrade or expand current infrastructure.”

The Ontario government will be tabling its budget on March 26, and GOHBA remains hopeful that it will contain further positive information on provincial plans to fund and build critical infrastructure.

“It’s so important that we recognize the link between housing affordability and enhancing public infrastructure,” said Burggraaf. “Ensuring that the appropriate infrastructure is in place will address a critical factor in housing supply and affordability and give more Ottawa residents a reasonable opportunity to live in a home of their own.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jason Burggraaf Executive Director Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association jason@gohba.ca

Emma Maynard Director of Communications Ontario Home Builders’ Association emaynard@ohba.ca