Ontario Investing $3,741,250 for Critical Water Infrastructure in Amherstburg
News Release from the Office of Anthony Leardi, MPP - Essex
Amherstburg, ON — Today, MPP Anthony Leardi announced the Ontario government is investing up to $3,741,250 to rehabilitate water infrastructure in the Town of Amherstburg. 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.
“This $3.7 million investment will help the Town of Amherstburg strengthen critical water infrastructure, protect homes from floods, and ensure residents can continue to rely on safe, reliable water services,” said Anthony Leardi, MPP for the riding of Essex.
The MHIP-HSWS funding will be used in Amherstburg for the Richmond Street Sanitary Sewar Replacement project.
“This investment is about protecting our community and planning responsibly for the future,” said Mayor Michael Prue. “By replacing aging infrastructure in our downtown core, we are reducing the risk of basement flooding, improving reliability for residents and businesses, and ensuring our historic community continues to thrive for generations to come. We’re grateful for the funding support that helps make this important project possible.”
“This funding will support a project to replace 425 metres of a more than 100-year-old trunk sanitary sewer on Richmond Street, which has reached the end of its service life,” said Valerie Critchley, Chief Administrative Officer. “We are grateful for the more than $3.74 million in grant funding, which represents a major contribution toward the project and allows the Town to address critical capacity issues while significantly reducing the risk of sewer surcharging and basement flooding.”
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
Press Contact
Armand Anderson
Chief of Staff – Office of Anthony Leardi, MPP – Essex
Armand.anderson@pc.ola.org
(519) 736-1550
