Ontario awards Clarington $2,877,680 from Building Faster Fund after 83% of 2024 target

Ontario is awarding the Municipality of Clarington $2,877,680 through the second round of the Building Faster Fund, announced Nov. 14, after the municipality started construction on 899 homes in 2024—83 percent of its provincial housing target.

The fund rewards municipalities that reach at least 80 percent of their annual housing targets. Funding can be used for housing- and community‑enabling infrastructure tied to growth.

Announced in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three‑year, $1.2 billion program. The program is intended to encourage faster approvals and construction by funding municipalities that make progress toward provincially assigned targets.

The province also announced nearly $81 million for municipalities across Durham Region through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, including more than $509,000 for Clarington, a package it says will enable construction of about 200,000 new homes.

From January to September 2025, Ontario recorded 17,202 rental housing starts, up more than 38 percent from the same period in 2024, the province reported.

Municipalities will have until 2028 to spend Building Faster Fund awards.

Ontario is also proposing to rebate the full 8 percent provincial portion of the HST for first‑time buyers of most new homes valued up to $1 million, subject to federal legislation. When combined with existing provincial relief, eligible buyers could save up to $80,000 on a qualifying new home.