Lakeshore Receives Up To $11.8 million from Governments of Canada and Ontario to Support Wastewater Infrastructure and Housing Affordability

The Municipality of Lakeshore is pleased to announce it has received an $11.8 million grant through the federal-provincial Development Charge Reduction Program to support the Eastern Communities Wastewater Treatment Plant and improve housing affordability.

The announcement was made at a media event hosted in LaSalle on Friday, October 23 featuring the Honourable Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, MPPs Anthony Leardi and Andrew Dowie, County of Essex Warden Hilda MacDonald, Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey, as well as members of Council, local mayors, homebuilders, and municipal staff.

"This investment builds upon the incredible success we have seen in recent years as we advance critical wastewater treatment infrastructure serving Lakeshore's eastern communities, including Comber and Stoney Point/Pointe-aux-Roches," said Mayor Tracey Bailey. "The funding will further reduce financial pressure on our taxpayers, protect the environment and support new housing for residents of all ages while ensuring Lakeshore continues to grow responsibly and sustainably. We are grateful to the governments of Ontario and Canada for their continued partnership with Lakeshore as we work together to find solutions and deliver the infrastructure that our communities need.”

“Across Ontario, there is a need for critical infrastructure and housing of all types to support our fast-growing communities,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “That is why our government is delivering the Development Charge Reduction Program alongside our federal partners. Together, we’re providing growing municipalities with the funding they need to ensure their communities remain a desirable place to live, work and raise a family.”

“Together, we’re building Ontario and Canada strong,” said Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. “By partnering with Ontario, the federal government is helping speed up housing construction by lowering up-front costs and investing in housing-enabling infrastructure projects — building strong, resilient communities that boost housing supply and drive economic opportunities.”

“This investment will help municipalities across Essex County reduce the cost of building new homes. This is a great example of what we can accomplish when municipal, provincial, and federal governments collaborate to strengthen our communities and build a better future for the people who call them home," said MPP Anthony Leardi.

In June, Lakeshore Council committed to reducing development charges by 50 per cent for a three-year period (March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029) if its application to the Development Charge Reduction Program was successful.

Lakeshore Council will consider the required amendment to the Development Charge By-law at a future meeting.

The Eastern Communities Wastewater Treatment Plant is a key component of Lakeshore’s 2024 Water and Wastewater Master Plan, which identified short- and long-term infrastructure requirements throughout the municipality. The treatment plant is intended to support infill development in Lakeshore's east while maintaining Council’s commitment to protecting farmland and the rural character of its communities.

Read the Full Announcement from the Government of Ontario.

Background

• The Development Charge Reduction Program is part of the Canada–Ontario Partnership to Build, which is designed to help municipalities invest in critical infrastructure, reduce development-related costs, and support the construction of more homes.
• Development charges are one-time fees paid on new residential and commercial development to help fund growth-related municipal infrastructure, including water and wastewater systems.
• Lakeshore Council has directed staff to prepare an amendment to the Development Charge By-law that would reduce development charges by 50 per cent for three years, subject to Council approval at a future meeting.
• The grant caps off a record-setting streak of grants in Lakeshore. In 2025, Lakeshore received over $7 million from the Government of Canada’s Housing Accelerator Fund, $37 million grant from the Canada Housing and Infrastructure Fund, and $32.3 million from the Government of Ontario's Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.