CHATHAM — The Ontario government has awarded the Municipality of Chatham-Kent $440,000 from the province’s Building Faster Fund after the community far exceeded its provincially designated housing targets in 2024.
The funding, announced Thursday by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, comes as part of the program’s second round of allocations. Chatham-Kent broke ground on 311 new homes last year, representing 338 per cent of its annual target.
The province said the financial reward will help the municipality expand its housing stock and community infrastructure, while supporting Ontario’s wider efforts to grow the economy, sustain jobs, and ease pressure on the housing market.
“I commend Mayor Canniff for taking bold action to get homes built faster in Chatham-Kent,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Through the Building Faster Fund and our historic investments in infrastructure, our government is giving mayors and councillors across Ontario every tool in our toolbox to get shovels in the ground, so families can find a place to call home.”
Funding for Speed and Scale
Launched in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, $1.2 billion initiative designed to incentivize municipalities that meet or surpass at least 80 per cent of their provincially set housing targets. Funding is earmarked for “housing-enabling and community-enabling” infrastructure, such as water systems, roads, and services that make new residential development viable.
By offering financial rewards, the province hopes to accelerate municipal approval timelines and increase the pace of construction. The announcement for Chatham-Kent signals the government’s intent to highlight municipalities that exceed expectations.
“We’re thrilled to once again be receiving funding through the Building Faster Fund. This support is a recognition of the incredible work being done in Chatham-Kent to both meet and exceed our housing targets and keep up with the pace of our growing community,” said Darrin Canniff, Mayor of Chatham-Kent. “As more people choose to call Chatham-Kent home, it’s essential that we continue to build a variety of housing options that meet the needs of both our current and future residents. This funding helps us do exactly that, and we’re grateful for the continued partnership with the Ontario government as we build a stronger more vibrant future for Chatham-Kent.”
Legislative and Policy Backing
The financial award is part of a broader provincial housing agenda. Earlier this year, the Ontario government introduced the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, aimed at streamlining development processes and reducing costs through closer collaboration with municipalities.
The policy framework reflects Premier Doug Ford’s administration’s focus on both increasing supply and tackling affordability. Officials say the approach combines legislative reforms with record levels of infrastructure funding, including an expansion of the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to nearly $4 billion.
The Ministry emphasized that municipalities now have until 2028 to allocate Building Faster Fund dollars, giving them more flexibility to align funding with long-term community growth needs.
Record Housing Starts
The province highlighted wider housing market progress alongside the Chatham-Kent announcement. From January to July 2025, Ontario recorded 12,175 rental starts—up 21 per cent from the same period in 2024, and the highest level ever on record for the first half of the year.
Officials say the rise in rental construction reflects stronger investor confidence, as well as demand for more affordable housing options across the province.
For Chatham-Kent, a community that has seen steady population growth, the funding represents both recognition and reinforcement of its efforts to keep pace.
“Chatham-Kent continues to show leadership in advancing solutions to Ontario’s housing crisis,” said Trevor Jones, Member of Provincial Parliament for Chatham-Kent. “Through the Building Faster Fund, our government is making strategic investments in municipalities that are getting the job done, cutting red tape, modernizing planning processes, and delivering critical infrastructure that supports new housing. This funding demonstrates our shared commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities, and ensuring that families in Chatham-Kent have access to the homes they need, now and for the future.”
Looking Ahead
With the province pushing to meet ambitious housing targets and municipalities facing pressure to accelerate approvals, the Building Faster Fund is likely to remain a central tool in Ontario’s housing policy toolkit.
For Chatham-Kent, the latest $440,000 contribution will not only help fund the infrastructure necessary for additional housing but also signal that mid-sized municipalities can play a critical role in addressing the province-wide housing shortage.
As Mayor Canniff noted, the challenge is no longer just about growth but about ensuring a diversity of housing options for current and future residents. With provincial backing, the municipality is positioning itself as a leader in Ontario’s housing expansion efforts.
