Second round of funding rewards municipalities for progress toward housing targets
As part of its record-breaking investments in housing-enabling infrastructure, the Ontario government is awarding $1,442,307 million to the City of Kawartha Lakes through the second round of the Building Faster Fund, which provides funding to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated housing targets. Kawartha Lakes broke ground on 451 new homes in 2024, which works out to 83 per cent of its 2024 housing target. This funding will help the City of Kawartha Lakes build more homes and community infrastructure and supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario by investing in infrastructure to support economic growth and keep workers on the job.
“Through the Building Faster Fund we’re partnering with Mayor Elmslie to get shovels in the ground in Kawartha Lakes,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “This investment, along with our government’s latest legislation, is another step forward in our plan to streamline and speed up approvals to get more homes built faster in partnership with municipalities across Ontario.”
Announced in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, $1.2 billion program that is designed to encourage municipalities to speed up municipal approvals processes and get more homes built faster. The fund rewards municipalities that make significant progress against their targets by providing funding for housing-enabling and community-enabling infrastructure.
“Our government has a plan to protect Ontario by creating good-paying jobs and building the housing needed for our growing province and the most competitive economy in the G7,” said Matthew Rae, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “This funding will play a key role in ensuring that the housing and infrastructure needs of local communities are met for generations to come.”
The Ontario government is also helping to speed up the construction of new homes and infrastructure, including by streamlining development processes and reducing costs in close partnership with municipalities, through the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act 2025.
Quick Facts
- From January to May 2025, Ontario saw 6,977 rental starts, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. This is the second-highest level of rental starts on record for this time of the year, after 2023.
- To help make way for more housing opportunities and support growing communities, the government is also extending the time that municipalities have to spend funds awarded through the Building Faster Fund to 2028.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
