The provincial government has come to an agreement with the federal government on putting in place a new agreement for the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) in the province.
The 10-year agreement would see funding granted to communities that wish to build or improve infrastructure related to drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste in an effort to expand a growing demand for housing. As part of the agreement, Saskatchewan will receive $187.9 million towards these infrastructure projects.
"To build the homes that growing communities need, we must invest in essential infrastructure like drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste systems," Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada Nathaniel Erskine-Smith said. "This 10-year agreement reinforces our commitment to sustainable growth, stronger communities, and housing solutions for communities across Saskatchewan."
The federal money won't be the only contributions made as Saskatchewan is also committing $155 million towards the program.
"The Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund offers additional options to deliver on this promise by enabling communities to thrive. Our government continues to make Saskatchewan a great place to live, work and raise a family. An intake for eligible applicants is expected to open later this year," Said Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz.
The province states that some of the projects that could apply to the program include providing the critical infrastructure necessary to enable more homes, providing the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems required to support community growth, preserving existing capacity or increasing reliability and access to drinking water, or implementing waste diversion initiatives to reduce landfill use.