Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) Upgrade and Expansion
This investment will support future homes, jobs and growth in our community.
Read the Media Release by Sylvia Jones, MPP
Ontario Investing $35 million in the Town of Shelburne to Support Growth and Build More Homes
April 13, 2026
DUFFERIN – The Ontario government is investing up to $35 million in critical water infrastructure in the Town of Shelburne to support economic growth and help build up to 1,800 new homes. The funding is being delivered through the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF), a stream of the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP).
“This investment will help ensure the Town of Shelburne has the infrastructure needed to support growth and build more homes,” said Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon. “By upgrading and expanding the Town’s Water Pollution Control Plant, our government is helping unlock future housing, support local industry and create the foundation for long-term growth in our community.”
The Town of Shelburne will use the funding to undertake major upgrades and expansion of its Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). The project will support new industrial, commercial and residential development by increasing the capacity and efficiency of the Town’s wastewater treatment system.
“The Town of Shelburne’s housing development as well as significant industrial and commercial development will be unlocked with an expansion to the Water Pollution Control Plant. This has only been made possible due to this significant grant of $35 M from the Province of Ontario,” said Wade Mills, Mayor of the Town of Shelburne. “Our small Town, which has grown rapidly, could never have afforded to solely finance this major capital project and it was otherwise not proceeding. It would be an understatement to say we are thrilled! I extend our sincere thanks on behalf of Council and staff to our MPP Sylvia Jones and the Province of Ontario for the investment being made in the Town of Shelburne”.
This funding is part of Ontario’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, which has helped enable approximately 800,000 homes across the province and includes historic investments in community-enabling infrastructure such as roads, bridges and water and wastewater systems.
“As we continue to navigate economic uncertainty and unwarranted U.S. tariffs, our government is protecting Ontario by investing in critical infrastructure that drives growth, creates jobs and strengthens communities,” said Todd McCarthy, Acting Minister of Infrastructure. “Through our historic $4 billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, we are giving municipalities and First Nations the tools they need to get shovels in the ground and build stronger communities. Our investments will deliver more homes, modernize aging water systems and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity across Ontario.”
These investments help municipalities build the critical infrastructure needed to support growing communities like Dufferin-Caledon.
MEDIA CONTACT
Office of MPP Sylvia Jones
180 Broadway, 3rd Floor, Suite A, Orangeville, ON L9W 1K3
Karol Jakubczak – Constituency Assistant
karol.jakubczak@pc.ola.org
1-800-265-1603
Mayor Wade Mills
Provided on April 8, 2026
Good morning everyone,
It’s a real pleasure to be here today to mark what is, without question, a transformative investment in the future of our community.
On behalf of Council and the Town of Shelburne, I want to extend our sincere thanks to Sylvia Jones and the Province of Ontario for this remarkable commitment—an investment of up to $35 million into critical wastewater infrastructure right here in Shelburne.
This is more than just funding - it is an investment in possibility, and the importance of this announcement cannot be overstated. This is a big win for Shelburne!
With the expansion and upgrade of our Water Pollution Control Plant, we are unlocking the capacity to support future growth. This in turn will help provide homes for families, for young people looking to stay in their community, and for those choosing Shelburne as the place to build their future.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Perhaps even more importantly, this project will also support new industrial and commercial opportunities to strengthen our local economy, create jobs close to home, and ensure that our infrastructure keeps pace with the remarkable growth that our town has experienced in recent years.
Quite simply, this is the kind of investment that small but growing communities like ours could not undertake alone. Council has been clear that investment for future growth cannot be borne solely by the existing tax base so to be clear, this project would not be moving forward without this partnership with the Province.
So today is a moment of genuine gratitude—but also one of optimism.
Because what we are really celebrating is what comes next:
New opportunities.
More housing choice.
More jobs closer to home.
And a stronger foundation for long-term, sustainable growth.
To our staff, our partners, and everyone who has had a hand in bringing us to this point—thank you. Your efforts have helped position Shelburne for this moment.
And to our residents: this investment is for you. It’s about ensuring that as we grow, we grow responsibly, sustainably, affordably, and in a way that preserves what makes this community so special.
Today, we are not just receiving a cheque.
We are laying the groundwork for the next chapter of Shelburne’s story.
Thank you.
About the Project
Background
S. Burnett & Associates Limited (SBA) has been working on the detailed design and possible staging of the proposed Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) Upgrade & Expansion project. SBA had previously been instructed to continue with the design process but that tendering of the project would not proceed without knowing how the project could be financially supported.
With the most recent announcement made by the Province of Ontario that the Town of Shelburne has been successful in securing funding under the HEWSF program, an update on the current schedule and timelines to tender readiness and construction completion is being provided. We anticipate there will be significant interest from the development community. Information on the actual timelines will assist Council in addressing questions that they may receive on this very important project.
Schedule and Timelines
The following is a brief summary of the expected timelines and commitments made under the HEWSF funding agreement with respect to schedule and timelines for tendering and construction. SBA has been working with Town staff and OCWA during the design phase and continues to meet monthly to review technical and operational aspects of the design work. SBA recently submitted the design package to the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) amendment which is the approval document or certificate granted by the MECP which is a permission that allows businesses to operate their facility or site with environmental controls that protect human health and the natural environment.
These activities are described under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act, 1990 (OWRA) and in the case of the WPCP, Section 9 of the EPA requires an ECA for certain activities with emissions related to air, noise and/or vibrations and Section 27 of the EPA requires an ECA for the transportation, management and/or disposal of certain types of waste and Section 53 of the OWRA requires an ECA for certain sewage works. The Town of Shelburne, similar to other municipalities and businesses, must comply with the specific terms and conditions set out in their ECA. The MECP has a 1‑year service standard in place for High-Risk files which means that they have to review the file within a year from submission of a complete application. However, it has been our experience that the approval process takes approximately 4 to 6 months for submissions of this nature.
SBA has consistently indicated that the proposed construction works will take approximately 2 years from the date of award. Based on the current design submission, typical tendering timelines and the proposed construction timelines, the following is a summary of the proposed timelines for tendering and construction activities:
|
A. |
ECA Application Submitted to MECP (4 to 6 months for approval) |
Completed |
|
B. |
Finalize 99% Design Package |
August/September 2026 |
|
C. |
Anticipated MECP Approval |
July to Sept 2026 |
|
D. |
Tender Project Publicly (6 to 8 weeks) |
October/November 2026 |
|
E. |
Award Tender |
December 2026 |
|
F. |
Start Construction |
January/April 2027 |
|
G. |
Construction Completion/Commissioning |
March 2029 |
|
H. |
First New Connections |
April/May 2029 |
View the Memorandum and MPP Sylvia Jones Announcement on the Council Agenda Monday April, 13, 2026
Contact Us
Administrative Office
203 Main Street East
Shelburne, ON L9V 3K7
Email: info@shelburne.ca
Phone: 519-925-2600
Fax: 519 -925-6134
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