Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has officially launched the Build Communities Strong Fund, a CAD 51 billion, ten-year infrastructure programme — and water and wastewater projects dominate its first round of funded work.
Announced on April 7, the fund targets the infrastructure Canadians rely on daily, from hospitals and transit to the water networks that underpin housing growth and community resilience. Of the 13 projects in the first tranche — totalling CAD 300 million in federal funding — nine involve water or wastewater infrastructure, with a combined federal investment well in excess of CAD 190 million spanning every region of the country.
Water projects in the first tranche
Cornwall, PEI — Phase 1 of the Cornwall Road Extension of Water and Wastewater project will extend water and wastewater mains to support growing residential and commercial development.
Bridgewater, NS — CAD 948,000 — Sanitary sewers on Jubilee Road will be replaced and upgraded, improving services for existing residents and unlocking capacity for future residential housing construction.
Halifax, NS — CAD 28 million — Phase 2 of the Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment Project will increase wastewater collection capacity to support additional housing units in the area. Led by Halifax Regional Municipality, the work includes replacing a combined sewer on Kempt Road and upsizing existing sanitary and stormwater pipes to handle greater flows.
Iqaluit, Nunavut — CAD 108 million — The largest water investment in the first tranche will upgrade trucked water and sewer services, including fleet and facilities, and expand the city's utilidor infrastructure to support higher-density residential development. The project is expected to facilitate the construction of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 new housing units by 2031.
Quispamsis, NB — CAD 2 million — The Hampton Road watermain network will be extended by 1.5 kilometres to enable the development of up to 1,055 housing units across eight development areas, while supporting future commercial and higher-density residential growth.
Hay River, NWT — CAD 20 million — A new water treatment plant will replace an aging facility currently serving the town of Hay River, the Hamlet of Enterprise, K'atl'odeeche First Nation, and Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation. The project aims to eliminate boil water advisories, improve public health, and support new housing development.
Headingley, MB — CAD 5 million — A new water reservoir and pumping station will add 3,600 cubic metres of water storage and 65 litres per second of pumping capacity, improving domestic supply, fire protection, and climate resilience. The project will support 1,771 additional housing units, including a proposed 523-unit subdivision, and help enable future growth in nearby First Nations communities.
Regina, SK — CAD 29 million — Upgrades to the South Trunk sewer will address existing capacity limitations, reduce the risk of basement flooding, and cut the risk of untreated discharges into Wascana Creek, while adding capacity to support further growth in the city's southeast and southwest areas.
St. Albert, AB — CAD 28 million — A comprehensive expansion of wastewater, stormwater, and water systems in northeast St. Albert will include approximately 3,250 metres of large-diameter sanitary sewer mains, a sanitary lift station, over 2,000 metres of storm mains with a new outfall to the Sturgeon River, and 1,200 metres of water transmission pipes. The project will unlock stalled developments in Jensen Lakes, Erin Ridge North, and future northeast neighbourhoods, servicing an additional 800 acres of future residential land.
What the fund means for water
Water and wastewater infrastructure is embedded throughout the fund's three streams. The nine water projects in the first tranche are all funded through the CAD 6 billion direct delivery stream, which targets regionally significant projects including building retrofits, climate adaptation infrastructure, and community spaces, and is now open for expressions of interest. The CAD 17.2 billion provincial and territorial stream includes housing-enabling infrastructure — explicitly covering water and wastewater systems — alongside health and post-secondary education sub-streams. The community stream, the largest at CAD 27.8 billion over ten years, lists water systems among 19 eligible local infrastructure categories.
Provinces are required to match federal contributions dollar for dollar under the provincial and territorial stream, effectively doubling the federal investment. Ontario leads provincial allocations at CAD 6 billion, followed by Québec at CAD 3.6 billion and British Columbia at CAD 2.2 billion. Alberta receives CAD 1.9 billion, with the remaining provinces and territories sharing the balance.
Canada's Buy Canadian Policy applies across the fund, prioritising domestic materials, content, and suppliers, with the provincial, territorial, and direct delivery streams also encouraging the use of unionised labour and Community Employment Benefits agreements. Eligible project proponents can submit an expression of interest for the direct delivery stream now via the Build Communities Strong Fund webpage.
