Posted: November 24, 2009 at 7:42 am | Tags: Affordable, canada, City, Cornwall, Corporation, Diane Finley, Funding, government, Housing Market, investment, James Kooistra, Jim Watson, Mayor Bob Kilger, Mayor Robert Gillard, Minister Responsible, MP Lauzon, Parliament, Patience, Williamsburg
Posted by Moishe Alexander
The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the community
of Williamsburg today celebrated the opening of 20 new affordable
rental units. This project is supported by more than $1.4 million in
funding through the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry,
on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources
and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Jim Brownell, Member of Provincial
Parliament for Stormont – Dundas – South Glengarry on behalf of the
Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Mayor
Bob Kilger, City of Cornwall; Mayor Robert Gillard, Township of South
Dundas; and housing sponsors James Kooistra and Trevor Tolley attended
the ceremony.
“The Government of Canada is committed to making
affordable housing available in Ontario and across Canada for those who
need it the most,” said MP Lauzon. “These new rental units in
Williamsburg will provide access to suitable, affordable housing for
low-income seniors and individuals with special needs.”
“These
20 units will have a positive impact on the people who will call them
home and the community as a whole,” said MPP Brownell. “I would like to
congratulate the developers and community groups for making these
projects a reality.”
The 20-unit project, sponsored by
Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing, will be occupied by low-income seniors
and individuals with special needs.
The federal and provincial allocations to the project were complemented by over $153,000 in municipal incentives.
“I
am pleased that new federal and provincial funding for affordable
housing has made these 20 townhouses a reality,” said Mayor Robert
Gillard. “I thank the Service Manager and Williamsburg Non-Profit
Housing Corporation for all their work and dedication to help so many
individuals benefit from this new housing service. Patience and
persistence pays off.”
The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing
Program Agreement, signed in 2005, comprises a commitment of $301
million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total,
the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least
$734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for
up to 20,000 households in Ontario.
Last fall, the Government of
Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to
improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional
one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and
existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to
municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Combined for
Ontario, this means a further $1.2-billion joint investment under the
amended Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The
federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this
overall investment.
Posted: November 16, 2009 at 11:00 am | Tags: Action, Brunswick, canada, City, CMHC, Delivers, Diane Finley, Drive, Economic, government, Housing Market, Infrastructure, loan, MILP, Minister Responsible, MP Weston, Paul Harris, Plan, Program, Related, Rodney Weston, Saint John
Posted by Moishe Alexander
The Government of Canada announced today that the City of Saint John has been approved for two infrastructure loans as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
The announcement was made by Rodney Weston, Member of Parliament for Saint John, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
The City of Saint John has been approved for more than $1.4 million in low-cost loans from CMHC’s Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (MILP) for the reconstruction of Braemar Drive, Brunswick Drive and Paul Harris Street.
“Our Government understands the importance of infrastructure in maintaining strong and prosperous communities,” said MP Weston. “This program is opening the door for municipalities of all sizes to meet their housing-related infrastructure needs and create jobs. It’s good news not only for Saint John, but also for New Brunswick.”
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. Municipal infrastructure loans are available to any municipality in Canada and provide a new source of funds for municipalities to invest in housing-related infrastructure projects. These low cost loans can also be used by municipalities to fund their contribution for cost-shared federal infrastructure programming.
“Renewing our infrastructure is a priority for this Council,” said City of Saint John Mayor Ivan Court. “Programs such as Canada’s Economic Action Plan are helping us to achieve this goal.”
Eligible projects include infrastructure related to housing services such as water, power generation and waste services, as well as local transportation infrastructure within and into residential areas, such as roads, sidewalks, lighting and green space.
Posted: October 26, 2009 at 12:20 pm | Tags: Affordable, Alexander, canada, City, community, construction, Diane Finley, Ed Komarnicki, government, Harvey Rosen, Housing Market, income, investment, Islands, Kingston, Mayor Harvey Rosen, Minister Responsible, Mr. Paul Martin, Ontario, Parliamentary, project
Posted by Moishe Alexander
The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Kingston today celebrated the official opening of two new affordable housing projects and the start of construction of another. The projects are supported by more than $7.5 million in funding under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program and will provide 164 affordable housing units.
Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and to the Minister of Labour; John Gerretsen, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kingston and The Islands and Minister of the Environment, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; and Harvey Rosen, Mayor of the City of Kingston, attended the event.
“The Government of Canada is helping make affordable housing available in Kingston and across Canada for those who need it most,” said Parliamentary Secretary Ed Komarnicki. “These new apartments provide more rental options for individuals and families in need of suitable, affordable housing. This is critical to the economic and social well-being of our Kingston community.”
“Our government is committed to developing better ways to meet the housing needs of Ontario’s vulnerable,” said Minister Gerretsen. “The benefits of projects like these ripple beyond the people who live here — our entire community reaps the rewards of new, safe and sustainable housing.”
Today’s announcement recognized three affordable housing projects in Kingston funded under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program:
* The official opening of a 93-unit building sponsored by R. Paul Martin Construction. The project received more than $2 million from the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The building will be occupied by individuals and families living on low and moderate income.
* The official opening of 24 units sponsored by Kingston Home Base Non — Profit Housing Inc. The project received $1.7 million from the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program and will be occupied by individuals with special needs and living on low income.
* The start of construction of 47 units sponsored by Frontenac Community Mental Health Services. The project received more than $3.8 million from the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The building will be occupied by low income individuals with special needs.
The federal and provincial allocations to the projects were complemented by about $660,000 in municipal grants and 67 units will receive ongoing financial assistance through the municipally funded rent supplement program.
“The City of Kingston is pleased to continue to work with our Federal/Provincial partners in the creation of new, safe, secure and affordable housing units,” said Mayor Harvey Rosen. “On behalf of the City of Kingston, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the staff and Board members of Home Base Housing, Frontenac Community Mental Health Services and Mr. Paul Martin, on the occasion of the official opening of their affordable housing communities. Through their efforts, 164 residents have been able to find a new and permanent place to call home.”
The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement, signed in 2005, comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.
In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Combined for Ontario, this means a further $1.2-billion joint investment under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.