The Ontario government is adding $1.6 billion to its Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, part of what Premier Doug Ford called “historic investments” to build communities and protect services.
The announcement, made at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference, brings the province’s total commitment under the program to $4 billion.
Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma told delegates the spending is designed to help municipalities unlock more housing and spur economic growth. “Our government’s $4 billion investment in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program will help communities across Ontario build the infrastructure they need to unlock more housing and support economic growth,” she said.
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack said the funding comes alongside the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund and recent legislation to reduce costs and timelines for construction. “Through strong partnerships between our government and our municipal partners, we are ready to face the economic uncertainty caused by the U.S. tariffs and continue tackling the housing crisis,” he said.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced nearly $1 billion in annual land ambulance funding, an average increase of 8.7 per cent compared to 2024. She also pointed to progress on the province’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan and nearly $550 million Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) program. Nine HART hubs are already open, with 19 more planned in the coming months, supporting nearly 900 housing units.
“Our government is making historic investments to protect Ontario’s health-care system and our communities, ensuring that more people across the province can connect to the care they need,” Jones said.
AMO president Robin Jones, mayor of Westport, said the annual conference highlights the importance of collaboration between provincial and local leaders. “Collaboration is the key to making sure we all deliver the best results with the resources we have,” she said.
The province said this year’s conference included more than 800 meetings with municipal delegations — the most ever — to discuss housing, infrastructure, health care and the impact of U.S. tariffs.
According to the government, ambulance offload times have dropped 65 per cent since October 2022, while a new online system from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is expected to reduce property information wait times from 30 days to as little as three.
