EAST GWILLIMBURY — The Ontario government is rewarding the Town of East Gwillimbury with more than $1 million after the municipality made significant progress toward its provincially mandated housing targets.
The $1,050,576 grant, announced Tuesday, comes through the province’s Building Faster Fund, a three-year, $1.2-billion program designed to incentivize municipalities to accelerate housing approvals and deliver new homes more quickly.
East Gwillimbury broke ground on 328 new homes in 2024, representing 92 per cent of its target for the year. Under program rules, municipalities must achieve at least 80 per cent of their annual housing goals to qualify for funding. The money can be used to expand housing-enabling and community infrastructure that supports continued growth.
Partnership to boost housing supply
“Through the Building Faster Fund, we’re partnering with Mayor Hackson and council to get more shovels in the ground in East Gwillimbury,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Together with our government’s latest legislation, which streamlines and speeds up approvals, today’s investment is another step forward in our plan to get more homes built in partnership with municipalities across Ontario.”
The province introduced the Building Faster Fund in August 2023. By rewarding municipalities that move swiftly on housing approvals, the initiative aims to ease Ontario’s ongoing housing crisis while also stimulating local economies.
Local leadership recognized
East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson welcomed the funding, emphasizing that the community is committed to tackling housing pressures while maintaining balanced growth.
“East Gwillimbury is committed to addressing the housing crisis and meeting the needs of our growing community,” Hackson said. “We appreciate the Ontario government’s support through the Building Faster Fund, which will help us continue to plan and build homes responsibly, while ensuring strong, complete communities for current and future residents.”
Local representatives echoed the importance of collaboration between municipal councils and the province.
“Through the Building Faster Fund, we’re supporting towns like East Gwillimbury that are working hard to create more homes for families,” said Laura Smith, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “By speeding up the approval process, we’re getting shovels in the ground faster — ensuring communities have the homes and infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.”
York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney added: “Because of the hard work and local leadership by Mayor Hackson and council, East Gwillimbury is being rewarded with over $1 million in funding to accelerate investment in housing-enabling infrastructure and support economic growth. Our government is proud to work with the Town of East Gwillimbury to make the dream of home ownership a reality for families across our region.”
Broader housing strategy
The province has positioned the Building Faster Fund as part of a larger suite of housing measures. Earlier this year, Ontario introduced the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, legislation intended to streamline development processes and lower costs in collaboration with municipalities.
The government has also expanded the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to nearly $4 billion, providing record levels of support for housing-related infrastructure projects across the province.
Officials point to recent construction trends as evidence of momentum. Between January and July 2025, Ontario recorded 12,175 rental starts — a 21 per cent increase over the same period in 2024, and the highest number on record for this time of year.
To give municipalities more flexibility in delivering new homes, the province has extended the deadline for spending Building Faster Fund allocations to 2028. The extension is intended to accommodate the complex timelines associated with planning and infrastructure investment.
Looking ahead
For East Gwillimbury, the new funding underscores the town’s role in meeting both local and provincial housing objectives. With strong population growth expected in York Region, the municipality faces pressure to add housing stock while maintaining livability and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace.
The $1.05-million award will be directed toward supporting these priorities, helping to ensure that as more homes rise, services and amenities are also built to meet the needs of residents.
As Ontario continues to grapple with affordability and housing supply challenges, the provincial government has framed East Gwillimbury’s achievement as a model for other municipalities. By surpassing its 2024 housing target, the town has demonstrated that local leadership, combined with provincial support, can deliver results in one of the most pressing policy areas in the province today.
