Ontario Investing $4,691,182 for Critical Water Infrastructure in the Municipality of Wawa in Algoma-Manitoulin

Ontario Investing $4,691,182 for Critical Water Infrastructure in the
Municipality of Wawa in Algoma-Manitoulin
Funding will support housing, jobs and economic growth

NEWS 
February 20, 2026

Wawa, Ontario — Today, MPP Bill Rosenberg announced the Ontario government is investing up to $4,691,182 to construct and improve water infrastructure in the Municipality of Wawa in Algoma-Manitoulin. The funding comes from the province’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream (MHIP-HSWS), which has increased by $700 million for a total of $875 million to support access to safe drinking water, housing, job creation and protection for communities in the event of extreme weather events.

MPP Rosenberg: “Congratulations to the Municipality of Wawa on receiving funding from the Ministry of Infrastructure through the Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund. This important provincial investment will significantly enhance the water and sewer infrastructure serving Wawa’s residents and create local job opportunities. We’re proud to support this investment in Wawa’s infrastructure, helping build a stronger community for years to come.”

The MHIP-HSWS funding will be used in the Municipality of Wawa to construct approximately 800m of watermain on Algoma Street and Beck Avenue from Broadway Avenue to Government Road including connections to existing watermains on McKinley Avenue, First Avenue, Second Avenue, Third Avenue and Churchill Avenue in the Municipality of Wawa. The project will also construct approximately 700m of sanitary sewer on Algoma Street and Beck Avenue and restore the impacted municipal roads. Construction of associated watermain appurtenances including main valves, hydrants and service connections, and sewer appurtenances including maintenance holes and service connections is also included in the project scope.

“Our province is taking important action to strengthen and modernize water infrastructure in the Municipality of Wawa in Algoma–Manitoulin,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “We recognize the critical importance of investing in essential water and wastewater infrastructure to protect families and communities.”

“On behalf of Council and the Municipality of Wawa, I want to sincerely thank the Province of Ontario for this $4.7 million investment through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program. This critical funding will allow us to construct new watermains and sanitary sewers on Algoma Street and Beck Avenue, improving the health and safety of local residential properties while preserving our existing housing supply. Without this support, this important project would not be able to move forward which will also help make additional vacant residential properties available for future housing development in our community.” Mayor Melanie Pilon

This funding is part of a historic investment of $4 billion in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP), included in Ontario’s $220 billion capital plan, the most ambitious in the province’s history, to build transit, highways, hospitals, schools and water infrastructure that enables new housing.

“As we continue to navigate economic uncertainty and unwarranted U.S. tariffs, our government is protecting Ontario by investing in critical infrastructure that drives growth, creates jobs and strengthens communities,” said Todd McCarthy, Acting Minister of Infrastructure. “Through our historic $4 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, we are giving municipalities and First Nations the tools they need to get shovels in the ground and build stronger communities. Our investments will deliver more homes, modernize aging water systems and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity across Ontario.”

QUICK FACTS
• In August 2025, Ontario increased the MHIP to $4 billion to speed up construction of homes and core infrastructure, such as roads and water systems. Since its launch in 2024, the MHIP has made about 800,000 more new homes possible.
• The MHIP is comprised of four funding streams: the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF), the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing (HECS) Stream, the
Health and Safety Water Stream (HSWS) and the Agriculture and Irrigation Stream.
• In January 2025, Ontario announced an initial investment of $175 million to launch the HSWS.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Ontario Investing $1.6 Billion in Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program
• Ontario Getting Homes and Infrastructure Built Faster and Smarter
• Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program
• Health and Safety Water Stream

MPP Bill Rosenberg
Bill.Rosenberg@pc.ola.org
705-842-6556