Premier Doug Ford visited Sarnia on Thursday to deliver a $400,000 cheque from the province’s Building Faster Fund, recognizing the city for surpassing its housing targets. Ford was joined by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack and Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey. Flack framed the funding as part of a broader effort to address […]
Premier Doug Ford visited Sarnia on Thursday to deliver a $400,000 cheque from the province’s Building Faster Fund, recognizing the city for surpassing its housing targets.
Ford was joined by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack and Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey. Flack framed the funding as part of a broader effort to address the province’s housing shortage.
“We are in the midst of a generational housing crisis,” Flack said. “Our population has grown significantly. Our housing starts have not kept pace… Through the building faster funds, we are rewarding municipalities who built homes with the funding for infrastructure because we know that without infrastructure you cannot build homes.”
Ford praised Sarnia for exceeding its 2024 housing target “by an incredible 198.”
During the media availability, the celebratory tone was challenged. When asked, Ford did not know the average price of a home in Sarnia, which was pointed out to be $550,000 this month. The follow-up question was direct: “You’ve brought every important person in Sarnia-Lambton together to announce less than the cost of a single-family home here. How is this anything but theatre?”
Ford defended the announcement and highlighted his government’s economic record. “I’m the average guy that puts his pants on one leg at a time, and we will work our backs off for the people,” he said, adding that his government’s role is to “create the environment and conditions for companies to come here and invest.” He said 409 companies had invested $40 billion and created 25,000 jobs in Ontario in 2024.
Mayor Mike Bradley called the funding an important step, saying it builds on $7 million provided by the province last year for infrastructure in the city’s east end. “This is a groundbreaking move forward for this community,” Bradley said. He added the investment could help create “3,000 housing units,” describing it as the only direction the city can expand.
The discussion also turned to Sarnia’s role as an energy hub. Bradley stressed the importance of protecting the Line 5 pipeline, which supplies crude oil to local refineries. “Five thousand products are created out of that particular pipeline that ends in Sarnia,” Bradley said. “We need this resolved sooner rather than later.”
Ford responded with support. “Mayor, I love what you were saying about the pipeline,” he said. “I’m all for pipelines on one condition. We’re making the steel pipes here in Ontario, and that pipeline is coming to Sarnia.”
Ford also pointed to other recent provincial investments in the region, including nearly $32 million to replace the CNR bridge on Highway 40, more than $12 million for Bluewater Health’s community addictions hub, and the construction of a new 160-bed Trillium Villa nursing home.
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