Caledon receives $2.8 million from Province for housing infrastructure

Province administering grant from “Building Faster Fund” 

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Caledon is receiving money from the Province to fund housing infrastructure.

On March 15, Associate Minister of Housing Rob Flack visited Caledon's Town Hall to give Caledon $2,830,080 from the Province's “Building Faster Fund”.

Hall was met by Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones, Caledon Mayor Annette Groves, and members of Caledon council.

According to the Province, Caledon is receiving the funding as it broke ground on 778 new housing units in 2023, more than 80 per cent of its provincially-assigned housing target.

According to the Province, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, $1.2 billion program designed to encourage municipalities to address Ontario's housing supply crisis.

“The fund rewards municipalities that make significant progress against their targets by providing funding for housing-enabling and community-enabling infrastructure,” said the Province in a statement.

When the Province passed Bill 23, the “More Homes Built Faster Act”, in November 2022, municipalities were required to submit housing pledges to the Province. Caledon is expected to have 13,000 new housing units by 2031.

Flack, Groves, and Jones all provided comments via the Province.

Flack said Caledon should be proud of the work it's done to “get shovels in the ground faster.”

Groves extended “sincere gratitude” for the funds received from the Province.

“We will continue to work with our Provincial partners and the building industry to bring much needed housing to Caledon,” said Groves. “We are committed to delivering our part of the province's goal of building 1.5 million homes in Ontario by 2031. The Town appreciates the support… in our efforts to achieve and even exceed the housing targets established in our housing pledge.”

Jones said Ontario's government is committed to building homes and helping municipalities reach their housing targets.

“There is no doubt that our housing supply must increase to support a growing population,” said Jones. “I congratulate Caledon for making substantial progress toward its housing target last year and look forward to seeing our partnership translate to housing for Caledon residents.”

The Town of Caledon issued its own news release on March 15. 

In it, Groves said prioritizing a range of housing choices is essential for an inclusive community and equitable growth. 

“As we embark on the journey to construct new homes, the allocation of this funding demonstrates our unwavering dedication to this cause,” said Groves. “It signifies our readiness to tackle the housing challenge head-on and reaffirms our commitment to building a better, more accessible future for all.” 

In the release, Caledon's CAO Nathan Hyde said the funding allotment means Caledon is “open for business.”

“I thank our dedicated staff who are committed to realizing our housing targets in harmony with our strategic blueprint, aimed at fostering vibrant rural and urban communities for everyone,” said Hyde.