Funding will support housing, jobs and economic growth in town
GANANOQUE — Today, Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, announced the Ontario government is investing $6,455,937 to build critical wastewater infrastructure in the Town of Gananoque.
Clark made the announcement at Gananoque Town Hall where he said the municipality will use the funding for structural and treatment improvements to the sewage lagoon system.
“This project will modernize Gananoque’s wastewater system, helping to protect the environment while supporting new housing and economic growth,” said MPP Clark. “I’ve worked closely with our local municipalities to secure the funding they need to replace critical infrastructure without putting the full cost on property taxpayers and water system users. To date, our government has invested over $91 million in Leeds and Grenville through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program.”
The funding comes from the province’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream (MHIP-HSWS), which has increased by $700 million for a total of $875 million to support access to safe drinking water, housing, job creation, and protection for communities in the event of extreme weather events.
“This investment in Gananoque’s wastewater system through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream (MHIP-HSWS) underscores the Government of Ontario’s bedrock commitment to the modernization of critical municipal infrastructure. By reducing the direct cost to ratepayers, the government is enhancing housing affordability for the residents of Gananoque while at the same time setting conditions for future housing growth and protecting the environment,” said Gananoque Mayor John Beddows. “This new commitment of $6,455,937 follows on the heels of the 2024 provincial investment in Gananoque of $5,771,984 under the Housing Enabling Water Systems (HEWS) fund. On behalf of the Town of Gananoque I would like to thank the Government of Ontario, Acting Minister of Infrastructure Todd McCarthy, and our MPP Steve Clark for their ongoing commitment and investment in the welfare of our residents and ratepayers as we work to Build a Better Ontario together.”
This funding is part of a historic investment of $4 billion in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP), included in Ontario’s $220 billion capital plan, the most ambitious in the province’s history, to build transit, highways, hospitals, schools, and water infrastructure that enables new housing.
“As we continue to navigate economic uncertainty and unwarranted U.S. tariffs, our government is protecting Ontario by investing in critical infrastructure that drives growth, creates jobs and strengthens communities,” said Todd McCarthy, Acting Minister of Infrastructure. “Through our historic $4 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, we are giving municipalities and First Nations the tools they need to get shovels in the ground and build stronger communities. Our investments will deliver more homes, modernize aging water systems and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity across Ontario.”
QUICK FACTS
- In August 2025, Ontario increased the MHIP to $4 billion to speed up construction of homes and core infrastructure, such as roads and water systems. Since its launch in 2024, the MHIP has made about 800,000 more new homes possible.
- The MHIP is 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.
- In January 2025, Ontario announced an initial investment of $175 million to launch the HSWS.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Ontario Investing $1.6 Billion in Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program
- Ontario Getting Homes and Infrastructure Built Faster and Smarter
- Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program
At today’s announcement with Gananoque Mayor John Beddows, Councillor Anne-Marie Koiner and Deputy Mayor Vicki Leakey.