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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Sudbury
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-23 19:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced that the City of Greater Sudbury will receive up to $45.3 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP). In exchange, the City of Greater Sudbury has committed to eliminating development charges for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029, a policy expected to reduce homebuilding costs by up to $22,162 per home and unlock 3,320 new homes. The federal funding flows through the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) under a 10-year, $8.8 billion cost-matched infrastructure agreement. The DCRP funding will directly support improvements to local water and wastewater infrastructure, specifically transitioning the Garson East Drinking Water System and upgrading watermains and sanitary sewers in the Maley Drive growth corridor.
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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Essex County
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-23 18:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced up to $105.8 million in infrastructure funding through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) for regional and local municipalities in the County of Essex, including up to $51.2 million for Essex County, $77.6 million for the City of Windsor, $25.4 million for the Town of LaSalle, $11.8 million for the Municipality of Lakeshore, $8.4 million for the Town of Kingsville, $8.8 million for the Town of Essex, and $6.8 million for the Town of Tecumseh. In exchange, these municipalities have committed to reducing or eliminating development charges for all housing types between March 30, 2026, and December 31, 2030. Combined with a two-government agreement to provide relief on the full HST on eligible new homes from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, the initiatives are estimated to save homebuyers up to $170,862 per home and unlock 36,372 new homes across Essex County.
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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Windsor and Tecumseh
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-23 15:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada are providing up to $84.4 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) to the City of Windsor and the Town of Tecumseh in exchange for reducing development charges for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. Windsor will receive up to $77.6 million to reduce development charges by 70 percent, funding stormwater management and roadway infrastructure projects while saving homebuyers up to $49,452 per home. The Town of Tecumseh will receive up to $6.8 million to reduce development charges by 50 percent, supporting new trunk sanitary sewer infrastructure and saving homebuyers up to $18,078 per home. Combined with a federal-provincial agreement providing full HST relief on eligible new homes, these initiatives aim to unlock 19,263 new homes across the region.
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Council requests premier's infill edict in writing 'as soon as possible'
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-16 22:06:47.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure, Finance]Following an executive directive from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ordering Edmonton City Council to rescind its zoning bylaw regarding small-scale residential (RS) zones, Edmonton City Council voted 12-1 on a motion demanding the province provide the order in writing. City administration projects the forced regulatory reversal will cost Edmontonians between $420 million and $610 million in construction business next year, halt over 2,000 rowhouse dwelling units, cut municipal planning and development reserves from $40 million to $25 million by 2030, and cost between $5 million and $10 million to implement under the Municipal Government Act.
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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Guelph
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-16 15:20:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced up to $48.3 million for the City of Guelph through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) to support vital water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades, including the Biosolids Facility, Verney Booster Pumping Station, and Clythe Water Treatment Plant. In exchange, the City of Guelph has committed to reducing development charges by 30 per cent for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. This reduction is estimated to lower new home building costs by up to $21,623 per home, which, when combined with expanded HST relief on eligible new homes, could save families up to $151,623 and unlock an estimated 27,675 new homes.
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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Orillia
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-16 14:15:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada are providing up to $11.3 million to the City of Orillia through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) in exchange for the municipality reducing development charges by 50 percent for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. The federal funding flows through the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF). The reduction is estimated to lower homebuilding costs by up to $15,791 per unit, and when combined with expanded Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) relief, could save families up to $145,791. The municipal initiative and infrastructure investment—specifically supporting the expansion and modernization of the City's Wastewater Treatment Centre—are projected to unlock 2,025 new homes.
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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in St. Thomas
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-15 18:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Affordability, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada are providing up to $19.6 million to the City of St. Thomas through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) to support the design and construction of a new wastewater treatment facility. In exchange, the City of St. Thomas has committed to reducing development charges by 30 per cent for single-detached and multi-unit housing, and 50 per cent for remaining unit types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. This initiative is estimated to reduce building costs by up to $5,961 per home, save families up to $135,961 when combined with expanded HST relief, and unlock 6,196 new homes.
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Canada and Saskatchewan Invest in Housing Enabling Infrastructure Across the Province
Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-14 02:30:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Finance]The Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan announced a joint investment of more than $73.5 million to support 10 infrastructure projects across Saskatchewan through the Provincial-Territorial stream of the Canadian Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF). Overall, the CHIF allocates $187.9 million federally and approximately $155 million provincially to address housing-enabling infrastructure priorities. Specific projects include Phase 1 of the City of Yorkton's Water Pollution Control Plant Renewal Project—which supports potential growth of 7,150 housing units—and the Town of La Ronge's sanitary sewer extension along Bedford Drive and Louis Road to enable 124 new housing units.
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Renewing Joint Municipal Infrastructure Funding Supports a Strong Saskatchewan
Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-06 21:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Saskatchewan, Municipal, Infrastructure, Finance, Governance]Saskatchewan Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz, alongside municipal leaders from Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Swift Current, North Battleford, Yorkton, Weyburn, Lloydminster, SARM, SUMA, and New North, are traveling to Ottawa on October 6 and 7, 2026, to lobby federal leaders for greater flexibility in cost-shared infrastructure funding. The delegation is advocating for broader project scopes compared to current programs, referencing past initiatives like the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program, which previously invested more than $2 billion across 460 municipal projects in the province. Discussions also encompass ongoing negotiations regarding the administration of the Provincial-Territorial stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.
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With city's next four-year plan less than a month away, Edmonton's budget deliberation process unveiled
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-06 20:29:58.0
Tags: [Municipal, Alberta, Finance, Taxation, Governance, Affordability]The City of Edmonton unveiled its upcoming four-year budget deliberation process, which will encompass five distinct budgets: the capital, operating, utility services operating and capital, office of the city auditor, and climate budgets. Draft budgets are scheduled for publication on November 2, followed by a public hearing beginning on November 23 that will remain open for up to 10 days until December 18 or budget approval. In an 8-5 vote, City Council approved raising the city's franchise fee to 19.4 per cent to match Calgary's rate, aiming to offset property tax pressures on residents and businesses while the city works to rebuild its financial stabilization reserve back to the $150-million baseline.
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Large businesses and post-secondary institutions could see five-digit utility fee hike if Epcor franchise fee increase approved
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-05 21:00:32.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Taxation, Finance, Energy]The Edmonton City Council utility committee voted to send a proposed increase in the city's franchise fee charged to Epcor from 17.65 per cent to the provincially capped maximum of 20 per cent to the full city council. If approved, the hike takes effect on January 1, 2027, generating an estimated additional $14.8 million for the municipality while increasing monthly utility bills by up to $31,500 for post-secondary institutions, $10,400 for large commercial properties, and $6,250 for hospitals.
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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Barrie
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-09-28 21:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced that the City of Barrie is receiving up to $129 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) in exchange for reducing residential development charges by 50 per cent from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. The federal funding flows through the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) under a cost-matched structure agreed to in March 2026, providing up to $129 million to upgrade the City of Barrie wastewater treatment facility infrastructure, including constructing a new digester, converting the biological system to conventional fine-bubble diffused aeration, and building an advanced nutrient removal treatment train. The funding and municipal development charge reductions are estimated by the City of Barrie to unlock 23,364 new homes, reduce construction costs by up to $62,223 per home, and save families up to $192,223 when combined with expanded HST relief.
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ABMunis members call on province to give them a cut of future provincial surpluses
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-24 22:41:51.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Finance, Infrastructure, Governance]At the fall meeting of Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis), 558 delegates voted 91 per cent in favour of a resolution calling on the Government of Alberta to establish a framework guaranteeing a set proportion of future provincial budgetary surpluses for local infrastructure funding. Co-sponsored by the cities of Airdrie, Leduc, Lethbridge, Cochrane, and Okotoks, the resolution seeks funds on top of the existing Local Government Fiscal Framework. ABMunis president and Grande Prairie City Councillor Dylan Bressey noted that the province is on track for a $2-billion surplus for the 2026-27 fiscal year and has requested a 10 per cent allocation ($200 million) to help close an estimated $1 billion infrastructure gap. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams stated that the province will review the resolution while noting that municipalities already share in surpluses through the existing framework, which totals $800 million for the fiscal year.
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Premier Danielle Smith considers potential changes to the Municipal Government Act
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-23 21:47:43.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Governance, Infrastructure, Finance]Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced potential changes to the Municipal Government Act at the Alberta Municipalities Convention in Edmonton, considering allowing larger municipalities to operate similarly to provincial governments regarding private briefing meetings. Alberta Municipalities president Dylan Bressey raised concerns over declining provincial infrastructure funding over the past decade—noting it has dropped by 50 per cent—and requested a 10 per cent allocation of the province's $2 billion surplus, amounting to roughly $200 million for local infrastructure. Smith also addressed municipal code of conduct rules, indicating the province may tailor future regulations based on the size of the municipality rather than applying blanket rules.
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Edmonton Public Schools to consider changing number of wards and trustees in next civic election
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-15 22:40:20.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Education, Governance, Finance]Edmonton Public Schools is considering reducing its electoral wards and trustees from nine down to seven ahead of the 2029 civic election, following a five per cent reduction to the division's system administration grant by the Government of Alberta. Ward F Trustee Julie Kusiek introduced the motion to have division planners draft boundary options, which the board voted 7-2 to defer to the October meeting. Any structural change to the total number of trustees requires formal ministerial approval under provincial education guidelines.
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Will the new budget slash Edmonton police spending? Mayor says likely not
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-10 11:05:32.0
Tags: [Municipal, Alberta, Public Safety, Governance, Finance]Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack announced that the City of Edmonton will likely maintain the current funding formula for the Edmonton Police Service in the short term, despite polarizing results from a recent 12,000-person budget survey. The current funding framework ties staff expense increases to population growth and non-staff spending to a specialized inflation number. While a city budget simulator showed nearly 60 per cent of participants reallocating money away from the police to balance accounts, Edmonton Police Service representatives and city leadership emphasized that the exercise did not accurately measure service-level impacts or statistical significance.
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'Balancing act': City juggles split views and steep costs in budget feedback
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-08 22:38:09.0
Tags: [Municipal, Finance, Taxation, Economy, Infrastructure]The City of Edmonton presented its city-wide budget feedback report for the upcoming four-year budget cycle, highlighting competing public priorities between maintaining infrastructure like roads and keeping property taxes low. City planners reported a current year-to-date financial surplus of $106.4 million, projected to narrow to roughly $500,000 by year-end, while acknowledging that impending U.S. tariffs and heavy summer rain damage present emerging cost risks. Mayor Andrew Knack and city councillors noted ongoing tensions regarding funding levels for police, public transit, and core services amid rising operational inventories and inflationary pressures.
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City to debate $114.58 million in climate mitigation actions in four-year budget talks
Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-03 22:01:58.0
Tags: [Municipal, Alberta, Environment, Climate, Infrastructure, Finance]The Edmonton City Council Executive Council unanimously passed motions to advance $114.58 million in climate mitigation actions for consideration during the upcoming four-year budget deliberations, down from a total proposed package of $257 million. The package includes four no-cost immediate actions—such as exploring alternative funding options and working with Epcor to improve electrical grid resilience—along with eight actions headed to December budget talks, including funding for energy-efficient buildings under the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program and fleet decarbonization. Additional proposals include $5 million to support community climate initiatives, $5 million to fund the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation's Climate Fund Endowment, and exploring the daylighting of urban creeks like Mill Creek with Epcor.
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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Bradford West Gwillimbury
Source: Ontario - Premier's Office
Date: 2026-08-28 15:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Affordability, Finance]The Governments of Ontario and Canada have announced up to $94.8 million for the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF). In exchange, the Town will reduce development charges by up to 76 per cent from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029, saving homebuyers up to $36,500 per home. The federal and provincial funding, combined with a cost-matched $8.8 billion 10-year infrastructure agreement and expanded HST relief saving up to $130,000, aims to unlock over 29,000 new homes. Specific infrastructure projects funded include upgrading Plant D at the Bradford Water Pollution Control Plant, increasing water storage at the John Fennell Reservoir, widening and reconstructing the Line 8 corridor from Sideroad 10 to Barrie Street, and building new Church Well infrastructure.
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Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Hamilton
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-08-26 20:17:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced a $572 million investment for the City of Hamilton through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) in exchange for the city eliminating development charges on all residential developments from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. The funding will support key municipal infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Woodward water and wastewater treatment plant, upgrading the Greenhill Water Pumping Station, and widening or reconstructing major corridors such as Barton Street, Lewis Road, Rymal Road, and Garner Road. The removal of development charges is estimated to reduce construction costs by up to $100,442 per home, which, when combined with expanded HST relief, could save homebuyers over $230,000 and unlock over 31,000 new housing units across Hamilton.
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