Source: Ontario Government
NIAGARA — The Ontario government is investing $135 million in water systems and irrigation infrastructure in Niagara Region and the Municipality of Leamington to help build more homes, protect farmland and keep workers on the job.
“In the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty, our government is investing in the future for the people of Ontario by doubling down on our plan to build,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “With our additional investments in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, we are unlocking more housing and building critical infrastructure that will protect communities, support the farming sector and keep workers on the job.”
Niagara Region will receive approximately $94 million, which includes approximately $53 million for six water systems projects to help unlock up to 14,000 new homes through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s (MHIP) Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) stream, and another $41 million for irrigation pipelines to help deliver water to hundreds of farms and agricultural businesses.
Leamington will receive $41 million to help protect thousands of acres of greenhouse operations with improved wastewater treatment services, supporting domestic food production.
“This investment is a clear example of our government’s plan to protect Ontario’s economy by supporting the people and sectors that drive it,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “By funding critical infrastructure like the Niagara irrigation and Leamington wastewater projects, we’re strengthening local economies, safeguarding food security, and making sure Ontario farmers have the tools they need to grow, compete, and succeed, now and for the future.”
Leamington is home to one the largest greenhouse hubs in North America and Niagara Region is where the majority of Ontario’s tender fruit and grape crops are grown.
The water systems projects in Niagara Region are part of the province’s $400 million in previously announced MHIP funding. This round of funding will support 50 new water infrastructure projects in 55 municipalities to help build up to 86,000 new homes across the province, bringing the total number of homes enabled through the MHIP to approximately 800,000. Additional projects that have been approved for funding will be announced in the coming weeks. In total, the province has invested $2.3 billion in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to date.
Investing in local infrastructure is part of the province’s more than $200 billion capital plan to build and improve transit, highways, hospitals, schools and other critical public infrastructure, while strengthening the economy for the future.
Quick Facts
- The two agriculture projects in Niagara Region and Leamington will help improve crop yield, quality, and drought resilience by ensuring a consistent water supply that will particularly benefit high-value fruit and vegetable crops like peaches for Niagara, as well as enhance water quality in Leamington through the collection of nutrient-heavy wastewater from the greenhouse operations.
- The agri-food sector in Niagara Region contributed to over $2 billion in GDP in 2024.
- Program funding will also support efficient irrigation in Niagara to help conserve water and support long-term farm sustainability by using tools like irrigation scheduling, reservoirs, water-saving systems tailored for Ontario’s diverse soil and climate conditions and effective wastewater in Leamington to enhance water quality to facilitate greenhouse and community expansion.
- The MHIP is currently comprised of four funding streams: the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF), the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing (HECS) Stream, the Health and Safety Water Stream (HSWS) and the Agriculture and Irrigation Stream. HEWSF was recently consolidated as a funding stream under the MHIP to improve the delivery of the province’s infrastructure funding programs.
Quotes
“Reliable infrastructure is essential to ensuring safe and strong rural communities across Ontario. With this investment, our government is ensuring communities in the Niagara Region and Leamington, as well as many other rural communities across the province, will have the funds necessary to build and maintain the infrastructure they need to increase local housing supply and rural economic development, while protecting jobs across Ontario.”
– Lisa Thompson Minister of Rural Affairs
“This is a truly historic day for Niagara. With almost $100 million in water infrastructure investments, it shows yet again that for Premier Ford and Minister Surma and this government, Niagara matters. Today’s investments will help build more housing to make the dream of home ownership a reality for young people. It will expand our irrigation systems, ensuring world-class fresh fruits and vegetables can continue to be grown and sold from Niagara. This will also provide hundreds of local construction jobs and support local contractors and farmers. I’ll always keep advocating for local investments like these and keep working with my colleagues at Queen’s Park to deliver for the residents of Niagara.”
– Sam Oosterhoff Member of Provincial Parliament—Niagara West
“Niagara is one of the fastest-growing regions in Ontario, with a population expected to increase to over 700,000 in the next 15 years. The Provincial Government’s investment in critical water and wastewater infrastructure announced today will be key in unlocking new housing projects to help service that projected growth. It will also help ensure Niagara’s municipalities can improve and maintain the public infrastructure we need to provide clean, safe drinking water to residents, while reducing the financial burden placed on local property taxpayers. Moreover, this funding will provide a welcome boost to Niagara’s economy. Investing in irrigation systems in Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines will help allow Niagara’s farms, wineries and tender fruit producers – a true jewel of Ontario’s economy – to grow and thrive well into the future.”
– Jim Bradley Chair, Niagara Region
“Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) applaud the Government of Ontario’s decision to invest in critical irrigation and wastewater treatment upgrades in both Leamington and Niagara under the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program. By modernizing irrigation systems and enhancing on-site wastewater management, these projects will reduce water consumption, safeguard local waterways, and strengthen greenhouse vegetable operations across the province. Improved treatment capacity means growers can recycle and reuse up to 90 percent of process water, cutting costs and conserving resources while maintaining the highest standards of food safety. Ultimately, this support not only boosts the resilience and competitiveness of Ontario’s greenhouse sector, it also lays the groundwork for true domestic food sovereignty, ensuring families across Ontario can continue to rely on fresh, locally grown produce year-round.”
– Steve Peters Chair, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers