St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland get $6.2M after meeting targets for housing starts

The Ontario government on Wednesday awarded $6.8 million in funding to three municipalities — St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland — that achieved at least 80 per cent or surpassed their housing starts target last year.

The government launched the Building Faster Fund in August 2023. The three-year, $1.2-billion program was designed to encourage municipalities to speed up municipal approval processes and get more homes built faster.

At a news conference in St. Catharines, Premier Doug Ford said St. Catharines had reached 85 per cent of its target and was awarded $2.5 million, Niagara Falls beat its target with 116 per cent and was awarded more than $2.8 million, while Welland beat its target with 114 per cent and was awarded nearly $1.5 million. 

"I hope that this money will be used to get even more homes built so I can come back with a bigger cheque for you," Ford said. He was joined at the news conference by Rob Flack, minister of municipal affairs and housing; Mat Siscoe, mayor of St. Catharines; Jim Diodati, mayor of Niagara Falls; and Frank Campion, mayor of Welland.

While noting that "this is a serious time for our province, with [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump taking direct aim at our economy," Ford said the government is doing everything in its power to make Ontario and Canada the strongest economy in the G7, including investments in roads and highways, transit, hospitals, schools and homes.

The three mayors all welcomed the funding, pledging to build even more housing this year.

"The progress we're making is a testament to what can happen when all levels of government work together," Siscoe said.

"With continued collaboration and momentum, we're building a stronger, more inclusive St. Catharines and one that meets the needs of today and prepares for the challenges of tomorrow. Together, we're making housing happen here in St. Catharines, and we thank Premier Ford and his government for their partnership in making that occur."

Diodati said the investment will help Niagara "turn things around, build more housing and help more of the public."

"Because of the Building Faster Fund and this cheque … it's going to allow us in Niagara Falls to build housing in our downtown. It'll be between a 300- and 400-unit complex that'll be a public-private partnership that will have affordable, attainable and market rents in the downtown in areas that we're revitalizing."

The Welland mayor said the funds will be used to support a "comprehensive infrastructure renewal project" on First Street, between King Street and Dover Road.

"The work includes replacing aging water and sewer mains with new PVC pipes and fully reconstructing the road with fresh asphalt, new concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks," Campion said.

Campion said Welland has so far issued 395 dwelling unit building permits for 2025.