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Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Set to Host Northern Housing Forum, 2010 in Inuvik, N.W.T.


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.”

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CMHC Helps to Improve Housing Affordability and Choice


Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) today announced 22 new grants to improve housing affordability for Canadians. The grants, totalling $99,700, are being awarded under CMHC’s Affordability and Choice Today (ACT) Initiative.

“CMHC is pleased to support the many municipalities, home builders and non-profit housing providers working to develop local housing solutions that will benefit the economy and revitalize communities across the country,” said Douglas Stewart, Vice-President, Policy and Planning, CMHC.

In operation since 1990, ACT provides grants of up to $5,000 to teams of municipalities and private or non-profit home builders who promote the improvement of planning and building regulations in their communities to make housing more affordable and responsive to local needs. ACT also offers a wealth of proven best practices and lessons learned so that communities can benefit from the innovations of others.

ACT is funded by CMHC and administered and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), with the participation of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) and the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA).

“ACT assists municipalities, home builders and housing groups to work together on regulatory reforms that support innovation. ACT has a significant impact leading to the creation of new affordable housing options,” said FCM President Basil Stewart.

“By sharing information about how housing providers, builders and municipalities implemented changes, other local teams across the country can benefit when adopting those changes in their own communities,” added CHRA President David Eddy.

“ACT grants have helped home builders to work with municipalities to streamline approvals and eliminate hurdles in planning and building regulations in order to improve housing affordability and choice,” said CHBA President Gary Friend.

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, healthy communities and cities across the country.

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