Trudeau Announces $6 Billion for New Housing Infrastructure Program

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a new $6 billion investment in housing infrastructure as part of the upcoming federal budget. Prime Minister Trudeau announced the measures in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on April 2, saying his government intends to create a Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, which will allocate $1 billion dollars to municipalities for urgent infrastructure needs and a further $5 billion for longer-term projects. The infrastructure fund aims to “accelerate the construction and upgrading of critical housing infrastructure,” said a government news release. “This includes water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure to support the construction of more homes.” Among the longer-term projects will be a push for municipalities to allow for the construction of more duplexes, triplexes and other homes the release referred to as “missing middle” homes that it says are both more dense and more affordable for buyers and renters. Provinces and territories must commit to building such homes in order to access the funding along with agreeing to other key points....