Town of LaSalle Applies for Provincial Funding to Deliver 100% Development Charge Reduction and Accelerate Housing Growth

The Town of LaSalle has applied to the Province of Ontario's Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP), seeking funding that would allow the Town to provide a 100% reduction in municipal development charges for eligible residential development over the next three years if the application is successful.

The Town's application is centered on a key growth-related infrastructure project that includes the Reaume Road/Sandwich West Parkway Expansion and the Ellis Street/Diotte Drive Expansion. These strategic investments will provide critical road, stormwater, and wastewater infrastructure needed to support future residential development and unlock new housing opportunities across the community.

“This provincial funding would allow the Town to eliminate municipal development charges on eligible residential projects during the program period, reducing costs and helping to accelerate the construction of much-needed housing. It would also enable us to advance infrastructure projects sooner than would otherwise be possible, benefiting both future growth and the residents who already call LaSalle home," said Mayor Crystal Meloche.

In March 2026, Ontario and Canada agreed to a cost-matched structure to provide a combined $8.8 billion over 10 years for infrastructure investments in Ontario, with Canada’s share of the funding flowing through the Build Communities Strong Fund’s Provincial and Territorial stream, pending an agreement under this Fund. The Build Communities Strong Fund was launched by the federal government earlier this year to accelerate infrastructure projects across the country to reduce costs.

The Reaume Road/Sandwich West Parkway and Ellis Street/Diotte Drive Expansion will enhance transportation connectivity and provide the municipal services necessary to support development in one of LaSalle's key growth areas, helping to bring new housing opportunities to market sooner.

Together, these projects will:

• Support the construction of up to 5,000 future housing units in designated growth areas;
• Expand municipal road, stormwater, and wastewater infrastructure capacity;
• Reduce development costs through a potential 100% municipal development charge reduction;
• Help accelerate the timing of new residential construction; and
• Ensure infrastructure is available when and where growth occurs.

Development charges are fees collected by municipalities from new development to help fund the growth-related infrastructure needed to service expanding communities. Through the DCRP, the Province is providing funding to municipalities that commit to reducing development charges in support of housing supply and affordability objectives. Announcements about grant recipients are expected in August. Should the application be successful, further details regarding the implementation of the development charge reduction program will be available then.