Ontario Investing $4,827,125 for Critical Water Infrastructure in the Township of Ignace

February 18, 2026

IGNACE — Today, MPP Greg Rickford announced the Ontario government is investing up to $4,827,125 for the rehabilitation of the Ignace Water Pollution Control Plant. 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. The MHIP-HSWS funding will be used in the Township of Ignace to update, repair and stabilize the water treatment facility.

“This expanded funding for critical water infrastructure will contribute to strengthening the safety and reliability of water services here in Ignace,” said Greg Rickford, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora-Rainy River. “The Health and Safety Water Stream is ensuring the safety, functionality and longevity of the water treatment plants that residents in Ignace rely on, today and into the future.”

“Minister Rickford has been a staple of unwavering support and representation for this community, and we praise the hard work he displays on our behalf at Queen’s Park. This funding is so critical for the ongoing safe operation, upgrades and repairs that we need to make to the wastewater facility in this community, in order that we can move forward with other key housing and commercial developments associated with the proposed growth around the upcoming NWMO developments.  It truly is a blessing that the Ontario government recognizes the importance of these key infrastructure projects and is assisting us with funding that we would otherwise have had increase taxes.”

• Mayor Kim Baigrie, Township of Ignace

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