The Ontario government has decided not to invest in funding critical water infrastructure projects in Chatham-Kent.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Michael Duben informed council at Monday’s meeting that the municipality’s application for the Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) was not approved.
The Ontario government invested $325 million through the HEWSF, which helps municipalities build, repair, rehabilitate, and expand critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
This fund is to help build up to 107,000 homes across the province. In round two, 23 communities were selected including Timmins, the Town of Erin, and Haldimand County.
Duben explained if their application had been approved, the municipality would have had the ability to provide more water services in the northwest part of Chatham. This would have opened up more properties for further development.
“We were not successful with that but there is a round three,” said Duben. “We will continue to hold our heads up high and keep working on our relationships and apply for that one.”
