Posted: April 21, 2010 at 8:05 am | Tags: Alexander MP, canada, CMHC, Co-operative, Diane Finley, Economic, economy, government, Housing Market, kitchener, Minister Responsible, MP Stephen Woodworth, MP Woodworth, Ontario, Stephen Woodworth
Posted by Moishe Alexander
MP Stephen Woodworth today announced that a housing co-operative located in Kitchener will receive almost $206,000 through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, as part of the Government of Canada’s social housing renovation and retrofit investments.
“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth,” said MP Woodworth. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like this one, will not only improve the quality of life of its residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable, but it will also help stimulate the local economy and create local jobs.”
The announcement was made at the Bread & Roses Co-operative Homes by Stephen Woodworth, Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.
Bread and Roses Cooperative Homes will receive a contribution of almost $206,000 from the Government of Canada to complete various interior and exterior upgrades including heating, ventilation and door replacement.
“We congratulate and thank the federal government, MP Stephen Woodworth and CMHC for making a sound investment to help ensure that this affordable community is preserved as a legacy for the long-term benefit of its residents, “ said Ken Elliott, President of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. “Today’s announcement is an excellent example of stimulus funding that works towards preserving jobs, assisting the local economy, and protecting valuable affordable housing assets for Canadians.”
“The CEAP Renovation and Retrofit funding has had a great impact on Bread and Roses Co-operative Homes” said Sahver Kuzucuoglu, Vice-President, Board of Directors, Bread and Roses Co-operative Homes. “We were very pleased to access this funding through CMHC to carry out necessary repairs which will ensure our cooperative’s longevity”.
Posted: April 15, 2010 at 9:06 am | Tags: Agreement, Alexander, canada, CMHC, Conclude, Diane Finley, government, Infrastructure, investment, Laurent Lessard, MILP, Minister Finley, Minister Lessard, Minister Responsible, Municipalities, Program, quality, Quebec, Related
Posted by Moishe Alexander
The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, announced today that the governments of Canada and Quebec concluded an agreement concerning the implementation in Quebec of CMHC’s Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (MILP) for housing-related infrastructure projects.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides up to $2 billion in direct low-cost loans to municipalities, over two years, for housing-related infrastructure projects through the MILP. Under the agreement, Quebec municipalities can submit applications directly to Financement-Québec to obtain low-cost loans that can be used to finance these projects.
These low-cost loans will significantly reduce the cost of borrowing for municipalities, which can use the funds to invest directly in housing-related infrastructure projects, including eligible work performed under cost-shared federal and Quebec infrastructure programs.
“Our government understands the importance of infrastructure in maintaining strong and prosperous communities,” said Minister Finley. “This program gives municipalities in Quebec access to the low-cost funding they need to move forward quickly on housing-related infrastructure projects. These projects will also stimulate job creation in communities across Canada.”
“This new partnership targets the modernization and improvement of housing-related municipal infrastructure. Our government is moving forward and stepping up efforts to ensure that Quebec municipalities have modern and sustainable infrastructure — indispensable tools to take up the challenges of the future in order to enhance the quality of life ,” said Minister Lessard.
Eligible municipal infrastructure projects must be related to new or existing residential areas and contribute to their effective servicing. These projects include, for example, infrastructure related to the provision of housing services, such as water, wastewater and solid waste services; power generation; local transportation infrastructure within or into residential areas, such as roads, bridges and tunnels; and residential sidewalks, lighting, pathways, landscaping and green space.
As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.
Financement-Québec is an agency of the Government of Quebec that offers financing to Quebec’s parapublic entities, such as school boards, CEGEPs, universities, hospitals and municipalities.
Posted: April 7, 2010 at 8:21 am | Tags: Alexander, building, canada, circumpolar, climate, construction, Corporation, design, Diane Finley, Finland, Forum, Honourable, Host, Housing Market, Inuvik, March, Minister McLeod, Minister Responsible, Moishe, N.W.T. Posted, northern Canada, Northern Housing, Northern Sustainable, Northwest Territories, Norway, NWTHC, Robert C. McLeod, Set, Sweden, United States, World
Posted by Moishe Alexander
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) is pleased to welcome delegates from around the world to share best practices in circumpolar housing construction at the Northern Housing Forum to be held in Inuvik from March 22 to 25, 2010.
“The Forum will highlight northern housing research, design and construction, while fostering relationships with others who deliver housing in northern climates. It will provide an opportunity for stakeholders from across the circumpolar world to share the designs and technologies that are appropriate for our northern environment,” said the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister Responsible for the NWTHC.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to support the Northern Housing Forum as part of our commitment to sustainable housing and communities,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “Building on innovations such as the Northern Sustainable House initiative will enable us to find solutions to the unique housing challenges of Canada’s arctic communities.”
Dynamic keynote speakers, panel members and delegates from around the world will come together in Inuvik to participate in the Northern Housing Forum. Experts from Sweden, Finland, Norway, the United States and Canada will challenge delegates to envision new ways to improve energy efficiencies, housing design and delivery.
Scheduled panels will cover topics ranging from climate change and adaptive strategies for the North, strategies examining existing buildings and how they can be made more energy-efficient, costing lessons, capacity building in arctic communities and much more. There will be a focus on emerging technologies and new approaches to the creation of real-world sustainable, affordable and highly efficient buildings that exceed expectations in a northern climate.
Minister McLeod added that the NWTHC is committed to constructing homes that meet the most stringent energy-efficiency standards, while remaining affordable.
“To maintain the highest standards, we must have the very best information. It’s by sharing experiences from architects, researchers, contractors, tradespersons and other housing professionals from across northern Canada and other arctic nations that we can learn what is working in the field and what can be applied in the Northwest Territories to the sustainable housing future we are building for northerners.”