In the January 2025, The Municipality was awarded $1.54 million to execute its Housing Action Initiatives, with a goal of achieving a Housing Supply Growth Target of 116 new residential units (40 net new missing middle units)* over the three years.

FUNDING PROGRESS

Below is a representation of the progress on our Housing Action Initiatives, growth targets and use of funding.**

$73,085

Funding used to date

4/5

Initiatives completed

45

Growth target units

$1.54m

Funding awarded

Housing Action Initiatives

These initiatives reflect the Municipality’s commitment to fostering sustainable housing growth and addressing local housing needs.

Initiative One – COMPLETED

Surplus Lands Program for Affordable Housing – Identifying and utilizing surplus municipal lands to support affordable housing development.
Start Date: 2025-03-01 Completion Date: 2025-07-23

You can find lands available and marketed for housing development here.

Initiative Two

Community Improvement Plan – Enhancing policies and programs to encourage housing growth and community revitalization.
Start Date: 2025-02-01 Anticipated Completion Date: 2026-03-25
Potential Budget**** – $135,000 for on-going implementation of housing support initiatives.

The Land-use By-law amendments necessary to complete this initiative are scheduled to receive first reading on March 11, 2026. Please check event listings often for details for a public information meeting.

Initiative Three – COMPLETED

E-Permitting Services – Streamlining the development approval process through digital permitting systems.
Start Date: 2025-02-01 Completion Date: 2025-06-30
Budget – $34,354 for software purchase.

Initiative Four – COMPLETED

Standardized Housing Design Catalogue – Offering a selection of pre-reviewed housing designs to expedite construction.
Start Date: 2025-04-01 Completion Date: 2026-03-31

Initiative Five – COMPLETED

Housing Incentives Program – Introducing financial and policy incentives to stimulate residential development.
Start Date: 2025-03-01 Completion Date: 2025-07-23
Potential Budget**** – $300,000 in on-going housing incentives

As of January 21, 2026, the Municipality has received one application to our Affordable Housing Grant Policy, Council will work with the applicant to determine eligibility and approval. All approved applications will be made public by motion and official press release.

About Our Application

The Housing Accelerator Fund 2 (HAF2) is a federal initiative administered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) that provides up to $400 million in direct funding to local authorities, primarily municipalities, to support initiatives that accelerate the supply of housing.

In September 2024, the Municipality submitted an application for HAF2, and on January 2, 2025, staff were notified of a successful award totaling $1,546,000. These federal funds will support the implementation of five key housing initiatives outlined in the Municipality’s submission. Additionally, as part of the funding agreement, the Municipality has committed to achieving a net increase of forty housing units, of which at least fourteen must be designated as affordable housing.

To participate in the HAF2 program, municipalities were required to develop a housing action plan that includes a housing supply growth target and specific initiatives aimed at achieving this goal. Growth is measured by the number of permits issued for new housing units. Using CMHC’s online application portal, an action plan was submitted. Below is the approved action plan.

HAF2 Approved Housing Action Plan

The 2023 Housing Needs Report was used to establish our housing needs when applying for the HAF2 funding.

Funding Breakdown

HAF2 Funding will be disbursed in four separate advances as follows:

First Advance 2024/25 $ 386,500.00 (Effective Date – March 31, 2025)
Second Advance 2025/26 $ 386,500.00 (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026)
Third Advance 2026/27 $ 386,500.00 (April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027)
Fourth Advance 2027/28*** $ 386,500.00 (April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028)

The Municipality may use HAF2 Funding for any of the following purposes:

Investments in HAF action plans:

  • any initiative included in the Approved Action Plan

Investments in affordable housing:

  • construction of affordable housing repair or modernization of affordable housing
  • land or building acquisition for affordable housing
  • Investments in housing-related infrastructure:
  • drinking water infrastructure that supports housing
  • wastewater infrastructure that supports housing
  • community energy systems that support housing
  • disaster mitigation that supports housing
  • brownfield redevelopment that supports housing
  • broadband and connectivity that supports housing
  • capacity building that supports housing
  • site preparation for housing developments

Investments in community-related infrastructure
that supports housing:

  • local roads and bridges that supports housing
  • solid waste management that supports housing
  • public transit that supports housing
  • sidewalks, lighting, bicycle lanes that supports housing
  • fire halls that support housing
  • landscaping and green space that supports housing

Projects funded by the remaining HAF2 funding will be identified during the implementation of the action plan initiatives and in consultation with stakeholders. All recommended projects will be presented to Council for approval. All HAF2 funding must be spent by March 31, 2029.

*historical housing growth plus 40 new “missing middle ” units.
** there is a short delay between the timeline of progress and website updates, we will make every effort to report in a timely manner.
*** conditional on meeting housing growth targets.
**** estimate only, actual budget is set by Council annually.