Blake Ellis/The Independent

“It is an exciting time for the Town of Petrolia,” said Deputy Mayor Joel Field.

Friday, government officials gathered across from the work taking place on Petrolia Line in Petrolia that will upsize the water main from 200 millimetres to 300 millimetres extending from the east side of Bear Creek to Oil Heritage Road, then turn south on Oil Heritage Road to a future development. This upgrade will allow the municipality to build more than 1,000 new homes.

This project is receiving funding of more than $2 million from the provincial government through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund. The federal government is also kicking in more than $1.3 million from the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund.

“This is great and this is the kind of infrastructure that is critical,” said Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong MP Marilyn Gladu, saying she was happy for the federal dollars that have been given.

“I’m looking forward to those 1,000 homes,” said Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey. “I hope we can get started on them right away.”

“In the face of global economic uncertainty, our government is doubling down on our plan to protect and build Ontario by delivering the most ambitious capital plan in the history of this province,” said Parliamentary Assistant Amarjot Sandhu, representing Ontario’s Acting Minister of Infrastructure Todd McCarthy.

Sandhu pointed to targeted investments of $2 billion over the next decade to build new highways, hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure. The provincial government’s plan also includes $4 billion for the municipal housing infrastructure program, which helps communities expand roads, bridges, water systems and flood mitigation assets, that makes housing possible.

This funding proposal was possible through a partnership between the Town of Petrolia and the Township of Enniskillen. Field called the Township of Enniskillen a valued partner. 

Construction began in mid September and is expected to take six weeks.

The second phase of the project will be built next year.

Both Enniskillen Township Mayor Kevin Marriott and Petrolia Mayor Brad Loosley were unable to attend as both were at the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus Conference in London.