On November 7, 2024, the federal government opened applications for the direct-delivery stream of the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF). Announced in April 2024, CHIF commits $6 billion over ten years to the infrastructure that new housing depends on, such as drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste systems.
How the fund is structured
- $1 billion flows directly to municipalities and Indigenous communities through applications to the federal government.
- $5 billion flows through agreements with provinces and territories, which were tied to housing-related commitments.
- At least 10% of direct funding is set aside for Indigenous projects, and funded projects must be substantially complete by 2031.
Why it matters
New housing can’t be occupied until the water gets to it and the wastewater gets away from it. In many growing communities, that means new or expanded pumping stations, larger mains and upgrades at treatment plants that are already near capacity.
These are exactly the facilities where electrical, mechanical and millwright work comes together: pumps and drives, process piping and valves, motor control, standby power and SCADA. Many of them will be upgraded while the existing station stays in service.
For municipalities planning applications, involving contractors early in constructability and sequencing discussions can help produce realistic schedules and budgets.
