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Bradford West Gwillimbury will receive up to $94.8 million for housing-enabling infrastructure.
Development charges could be reduced by up to 76% depending on home type and location.
The measures could unlock more than 29,000 new homes, according to the town.
The governments of Canada and Ontario announced on August 28 that Bradford West Gwillimbury will receive up to $94.8 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program.
The funding is intended to support infrastructure needed to enable new housing construction across the town.
In exchange, Bradford West Gwillimbury has committed to reducing development charges for three years, from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029.
The reduction depends on the type of home and where it is being built.
Single and semi-detached homes could see development-charge reductions of 47% in urban and rural areas and 30% in Bond Head.
For townhomes, the reduction could reach 65% in urban areas and 63% in rural areas.
Two- and three-bedroom apartments could receive the largest reduction, reaching 76% in rural areas and 65% in urban areas.
One-bedroom apartments could see reductions of up to 56% in urban areas and 55% in rural areas.
The government estimates that the development-charge reductions could lower the cost of building a new home by up to $36,500 per home.
That saving is separate from the HST measure agreed by Canada and Ontario for eligible new homes.
When the potential $36,500 reduction is combined with up to $130,000 in HST savings, some Bradford West Gwillimbury families could potentially save as much as $166,500 on the cost of a new home.
The $166,500 figure is a potential combined saving and does not mean every homebuyer will receive that amount.
The funding will support infrastructure projects needed to accommodate housing and community growth.
Projects identified in the government announcement include:
These projects are intended to help provide the water, wastewater, road, and other infrastructure required for new development.
Bradford West Gwillimbury estimates that the combination of construction-cost savings and housing-enabling infrastructure could unlock more than 29,000 new homes.
The town says the additional housing could provide more choice for both homebuyers and renters while supporting greater affordability.
The 29,000 figure is the town's estimate, rather than a guarantee that all of those homes will be built.
Development charges are fees that municipalities collect from new development to help pay for infrastructure and services needed to support growth.
Reducing these charges can lower some of the upfront costs associated with building new homes.
The federal and Ontario governments are using the Development Charge Reduction Program to encourage municipalities to reduce these charges while receiving funding for infrastructure that supports additional housing.
New neighbourhoods require more than houses.
They also need reliable water and wastewater systems, roads, transportation infrastructure and other public services.
The Bradford West Gwillimbury agreement is designed to connect housing construction with those infrastructure investments.
That means the program is aimed at addressing both the cost of development and the infrastructure needed to support population growth.
The housing announcement also points to expanded HST relief on eligible new homes.
The government says the measure can provide homebuyers with up to $130,000 in savings on an eligible new home.
Canada and Ontario agreed to remove the full HST on new homes from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
This means the potential $166,500 figure combines two separate measures: development-charge savings and eligible HST relief.
The development-charge reductions must be approved by Bradford West Gwillimbury Council.
Once approved, the reductions must remain in effect for three years.
The federal funding is also subject to additional requirements, including a Canada-Ontario Build Communities Strong Fund agreement, federal review and approval, and an Ontario-municipal Transfer Payment Agreement.
The biggest potential benefit for buyers is an increase in housing supply combined with lower development costs.
However, the development-charge reduction does not mean every existing homebuyer will immediately receive a $36,500 discount.
The government describes the figure as a reduction in the cost of building new homes. How much of that saving reaches buyers will depend on individual projects and market conditions.
The longer-term goal is to make it easier to build more homes while supporting infrastructure in the growing community.
Lower development charges can reduce some upfront costs associated with new housing projects.
The government says the program is designed to help municipalities unlock housing by combining infrastructure investment with reductions in development charges.
For builders, that could improve the financial feasibility of some projects, particularly where infrastructure constraints have previously limited development.
The Bradford West Gwillimbury agreement is part of a broader Canada-Ontario infrastructure partnership.
In March 2026, Canada and Ontario agreed to a cost-matched structure providing a combined $8.8 billion over 10 years for infrastructure investments in Ontario, with Canada's share flowing through the Build Communities Strong Fund.
The federal government says programs such as the Development Charge Reduction Program are intended to help speed up housing construction while supporting economic growth and jobs.
Bradford West Gwillimbury Council must approve the development-charge reductions before they take effect.
The federal infrastructure funding is also subject to further agreements, due diligence and project approvals.
If the conditions are completed, the funding will support infrastructure projects designed to accommodate additional housing across the community.
Canada and Ontario announced up to $94.8 million for housing-enabling infrastructure in Bradford West Gwillimbury while the town commits to reducing development charges by up to 76%.
The government estimates that the charge reductions could lower new-home construction costs by up to $36,500 per home. Combined with eligible HST relief, some families could potentially see total savings of up to $166,500.
The bigger goal is increasing housing supply. Bradford West Gwillimbury estimates the measures could unlock more than 29,000 new homes, although that remains an estimate rather than a guarantee.
For Canadians watching housing affordability, the key question will be whether lower development costs and new infrastructure ultimately translate into more homes and more affordable options.
The $94.8 million is infrastructure funding for Bradford West Gwillimbury, not a direct payment to homebuyers. In return for the funding, the town is committing to reduce development charges by up to 76% for three years. The goal is to lower development costs and help unlock additional housing.
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Bradford West Gwillimbury is set to receive up to $94.8 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program to support housing-enabling infrastructure. The funding is provided in recognition of the town's commitment to reduce development charges by up to 76% for three years.
The reduction depends on the type of home and location. The maximum reduction listed in the government announcement is 76% for two- and three-bedroom apartments in rural areas.
Some eligible families could potentially save up to $166,500 when the estimated development charge savings of up to $36,500 are combined with up to $130,000 in eligible HST relief. The $166,500 is a potential combined saving, not a direct payment to every buyer.
Bradford West Gwillimbury estimates that the development-charge reductions and housing-enabling infrastructure investment could unlock more than 29,000 new homes. This is the town's estimate, not a guaranteed number of completed homes.
The reductions must first be approved by Bradford West Gwillimbury Council. Once approved, they must remain in effect for three years.
