The President of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association says she is glad to see smaller communities will be able to tap into a $1.2 billion fund to address housing in the province.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement Monday during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in London this week, notably the fund will allow for smaller communities, which don’t have a housing target, to access 10% of the fund.

However, Wendy Landry notes there are several challenges seen in the region in building those homes.

“We see other unique challenges in Northwestern Ontario with regards to building houses, infrastructure, the ability to attract developers to come to Northwestern Ontario to build those houses for us is also a challenge.”

Landry adds that while there are developers in the larger centres in the region already, noting many are busy with other projects.

Other issues include the cost of construction which can be two to four times more than elsewhere in the province.