Federal money will help build homes faster in Espanola

The Town of Espanola is fast tracking housing builds with the help of the federal government.

On Tuesday afternoon in Espanola, the local and federal governments announced an agreement to accelerate housing builds.

It’s good news for a town hit hard in November 2023 when a main employer in the area, Domtar laid off 450 workers at the pulp and paper mill.

Despite that, Mayor Doug Gervais said the need for housing in the community has never been greater.

Nickel Belt MP Marc Serre announced $2 million to help Espanola build 64 houses in the next three years -- with a projected 400 in the next decade.

“Fast-tracking building permits also some of the infrastructure needed,” Serre said.

More homes, built faster

“This $2 million fund is going to help the Town of Espanola to look at building more homes faster and helping the community … We have heard clearly: we have to look at some of these homes on the affordability side.”

Gervais said changes to building rules will also help.

“Taking away some of the red tape -- some things that don’t have to be there in that sense when we do any kind of a building code,” he said.

“It’s all a change in regulations will help us in the future.”

Gervais said despite uncertainty after the Domtar layoffs at the end of 2023, the town is growing and the need for housing has never been greater.

“Population is in around 5,100 and it’s increasing,” he said.

“Our population has not gone down (since) the shutdown of Domtar. Our schools have (seen an) increase (in) students. So, we know that people are staying and they are coming here because it is centralized.”

The mayor said the town’s Housing Action Plan includes five local initiatives, including digitizing the building permit application process.

Another major priority is infrastructure investments in water sewer and roads.