Building Faster Fund Supports New Homes and Infrastructure Growth
BRANTFORD, Ont. — The Ontario government has awarded the City of Brantford $4 million through the third round of the Building Faster Fund after the municipality significantly exceeded its provincially assigned housing target in 2025.
The funding is being provided to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their annual housing-start targets. Brantford surpassed its goal by a substantial margin, breaking ground on 1,612 new homes during 2025 — 161 per cent of its target. Provincial officials say the investment will help support additional housing development and critical infrastructure projects while contributing to Ontario’s broader strategy to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as part of the province’s ongoing efforts to accelerate homebuilding amid continued housing demand across Ontario.
“We appreciate the efforts of municipal partners, like Brantford, who are working tirelessly alongside us to get more shovels in the ground,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We will continue to support their success and create the conditions to build more, smarter and faster, through initiatives such as the recently announced Development Charge Reduction Program.”
Housing Performance Earns Provincial Recognition
The Building Faster Fund was introduced in August 2023 as a three-year program worth up to $1.2 billion. The initiative rewards municipalities that make meaningful progress toward provincial housing goals by providing funding for infrastructure needed to accommodate population growth and new residential developments.
Brantford’s strong performance in 2025 placed it among the municipalities eligible for the latest round of funding. Provincial officials noted that investments through the fund can be directed toward infrastructure projects that support growing communities and enable future housing construction.
Mayor Kevin Davis said the city’s recent growth reflects the contributions of residents, businesses, developers and municipal staff working together to expand housing opportunities while maintaining community standards.
“Brantford is experiencing remarkable growth, and we’re grateful to everyone who continues to contribute to the development and investment we are seeing across our community,” said Kevin Davis, Mayor of Brantford. “We appreciate the province’s support through the Building Faster Fund, which will help the City continue to manage growth responsibly while ensuring Brantford remains a welcoming, vibrant and exceptional place to live.”
Province Introduces Additional Measures to Boost Housing Supply
The funding announcement comes as Ontario continues to implement policies aimed at reducing barriers to residential development.
The provincial government recently introduced the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026, along with the HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026. Officials say these measures are intended to streamline approval processes, reduce development costs and accelerate construction timelines for both housing and infrastructure projects.
Ontario has also launched the Development Charge Reduction Program as part of the broader Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, an initiative valued at up to $8.8 billion. The program will provide funding over the next decade for housing-enabling infrastructure projects, with priority given to municipalities that reduce and maintain lower development charges.
In addition, the province and federal government have agreed to remove the Harmonized Sales Tax on new homes between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027. The measure is expected to reduce the cost of a new home by as much as $130,000 for eligible buyers.
Provincial officials say the combination of incentives is designed to improve affordability, encourage residential construction and support employment in Ontario’s building sector.
Local Leaders Highlight Collaborative Success
Local representatives praised Brantford’s achievement, emphasizing the role played by municipal leadership and staff in reaching and surpassing housing targets.
“Achieving 161 per cent of the provincial housing target is no small feat,” said Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford. “This was a tremendous collective effort by City staff, Council and Mayor Kevin Davis that brings homeownership closer to more people in Brantford. Well done.”
Housing Construction Accelerates Across Ontario
The Brantford funding announcement coincides with strong provincial housing construction figures in 2026.
According to the Ontario government, the province recorded 26,084 housing starts between January and May 2026, representing a 17.2 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025. Rental housing construction has grown even more rapidly, with 13,599 rental starts recorded 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 additional flexibility, the province is extending the deadline for spending Building Faster Fund allocations until 2028.
Meanwhile, Ontario is investing nearly $57 million through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program across the County of Brant. The funding is expected to support the construction of more than 5,000 new homes, including more than $12 million earmarked specifically for projects within the City of Brantford.
As housing demand remains a key issue across Ontario, provincial and municipal leaders are increasingly relying on incentive-based programs and infrastructure investments to accelerate development and expand housing availability in growing communities.