City Surpasses Annual Housing Goal as Province Continues Push to Accelerate Home Construction
NORTH BAY, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded the City of North Bay $336,000 through the third and final round of the Building Faster Fund after the municipality exceeded its provincially assigned housing target in 2025.
The funding recognizes North Bay’s progress in increasing housing supply, with the city recording 113 housing starts last year—13 per cent above its annual target. Provincial officials say the investment will support additional housing development and community infrastructure projects while helping sustain economic growth and employment across the region.
The Building Faster Fund, launched in August 2023, is a three-year program valued at up to $1.2 billion. The initiative was designed to reward municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincial housing targets by providing funding for infrastructure needed to accommodate growth.
Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack said municipalities that have made significant progress deserve recognition for their efforts.
“There’s a growing need for more homes across our province, and we applaud the work of partners like Mayor Chirico and his council who are working alongside us to get shovels in the ground,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Although this is the third and final year of the program, we will continue supporting municipalities with funding for housing-enabling infrastructure through measures like the Development Charge Reduction Program.”
North Bay Recognized for Housing Growth
North Bay’s performance places it among municipalities that have successfully advanced Ontario’s broader housing strategy, which aims to increase the supply of homes while reducing barriers to development.
The provincial government noted that the funding can be used to support infrastructure investments that enable future residential construction and accommodate population growth.
Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, said the funding reflects the city’s commitment to increasing housing opportunities for residents.
“The City of North Bay is once again taking action to build homes so families can achieve their dream of homeownership,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing. “The Ontario government’s $336,000 investment through the Building Faster Fund continues to reduce barriers to market access and deliver critical infrastructure faster and more affordably. We would like to thank the city for their impressive housing starts and for ensuring that our residents have an affordable place to call home.”
Municipal leaders say the city is working to provide a variety of housing options, ranging from single-family homes to apartment developments and affordable housing projects.
Mayor Peter Chirico welcomed the provincial support, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum in housing development.
“From additional residential units and new single-family homes to apartment developments and affordable housing projects for seniors, we’re working to support a range of housing choices,” said Peter Chirico, Mayor of North Bay. “We’re grateful to the Province of Ontario for recognizing these efforts through the Building Faster Fund. This investment will help us continue creating the conditions needed to get more homes built.”
Province Expands Housing and Infrastructure Support
While the Building Faster Fund concludes this year, Ontario says it will continue supporting municipalities through other housing-focused initiatives.
Among them is the Development Charge Reduction Program, part of the province’s broader Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, an agreement valued at up to $8.8 billion. The program provides funding for housing-enabling infrastructure projects over a 10-year period, with priority given to municipalities that reduce and maintain lower development charges.
The province has also introduced legislative measures intended to accelerate housing construction and infrastructure projects. These include the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026, and the HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026.
Under the partnership agreement, Ontario and the federal government are also removing the HST on eligible new homes from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. The province estimates the measure could save homebuyers as much as $130,000 on the purchase of a new home.
Housing Construction Accelerates Across Ontario
Recent provincial figures indicate housing activity has continued to strengthen across Ontario in 2026.
From January to May, the province recorded 26,084 housing starts, representing a 17.2 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025. Rental housing construction showed even stronger growth, with 13,599 rental starts during the first five months of the year, up 94.9 per cent year over year and marking a record level for that period.
To provide municipalities with greater flexibility, Ontario has also extended the deadline for spending Building Faster Fund allocations until 2028.
In the Nipissing District, the province says it is investing nearly $37 million through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to support more than 1,000 new homes. Of that amount, more than $13 million has been allocated to the City of North Bay.
Provincial officials say the combined investments are intended to improve housing affordability, support residential construction activity and ensure communities have the infrastructure needed to accommodate future growth.