New sewers open door to housing development north of Third Line

$7.4 million in provincial funding will also alleviate basement flooding around Peoples Road

Sault MPP Ross Romano, July 19, 2022Darren Taylor/SooToday

An announcement today from Sault MPP Ross Romano opens the door for hundreds of new homes in new neighbourhoods north of Third Line.

Until now, development of those lands has been on hold because the Peoples Road sewer is at capacity.

Today, Romano announced $7.4 million in provincial funding to increase sewer capacity, allowing construction of 398 new homes.

The announcement is also expected to reduce basement flooding in the area.

The project is planned as part of a reconstruction next year of Peoples Road from Churchill Avenue to Penno Road.

"Sault Ste. Marie’s population is at its highest since the 90s, driven by the kind of growth we haven’t experienced since the 70s," said Mayor Matthew Shoemaker.

"We're committed to maintaining this momentum and support announced today from the Ontario government will help facilitate the construction of 400 new homes," the mayor said.

Find the full news release from MPP Ross Romano below:

The Ontario government is investing $7,424,321 through the funding to support the Peoples Road sanitary sewer improvements, enabling the construction of 398 new homes in Sault Ste. Marie.

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 Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund helps to ensure sustainable growth. Through this first round of funding our community will be able to expand by nearly 400 homes,” said Ross Romano, MPP, Sault Ste. Marie. “By investing in critical infrastructure, we are not only safeguarding public health and protecting our environment, but also unlocking new housing opportunities and fostering economic growth for Sault Ste. Marie’s future."

“Sault Ste. Marie’s population has reached its highest level since the 1990s, driven by the kind of growth we haven’t experienced since the 1970s. The city is utilizing every available resource to keep up the momentum in the coming years, including policy changes and programs that accelerate new housing. We’re grateful to the province for supporting these efforts,” said Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker.

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.

QUICK FACTS

Details about the second application intake and eligibility will be available at ontario.ca/watersystemsfund on August 14, 2024. The second intake will provide an additional $250 million in funding.

The Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program will support core infrastructure projects that help enable housing, such as roads and water infrastructure.
Investing in key local infrastructure through programs like the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund and the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program is part of the province’s capital plan of over $190 billion to build critical infrastructure and get more homes built faster to support growing communities and lay a strong foundation for future generations.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES