Greg Rickford, Member of Parliament for Kenora, made this announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Blind River has been approved for a low-cost loan of $49.5 million from CMHC’s Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (MILP), to construct a solar energy generating facility. The project includes the installation of approximately 45,000 solar panels on 285 towers over an area of 120 acres and will provide the residents of Blind River with a low-cost renewable energy supply.

“Our Government understands the importance of infrastructure in maintaining strong and prosperous communities,” said MP Rickford. “This program is opening the door for municipalities to meet their housing-related infrastructure needs. Canada’s Economic Action Plan will continue to create jobs, provide economic stimulus for communities in all corners of the country, and support Canadian workers and families.”

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.

“The Town of Blind River is very excited about the development of the Blind River Solar Generating Facility. With the tremendous assistance of the CMHC, our community takes a giant step forward into a stronger, greener future,” said Mayor Robert Gallagher.

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.

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.

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.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) marked National Housing Day by launching a call for entries to the 2010 CMHC Housing Awards Program, which recognizes private sector-led best practices in affordable housing.

“National Housing Day is an opportunity to showcase solutions that address affordable housing needs in Canada,” said Karen Kinsley, President of CMHC. “Today’s call for entries to the 2010 CMHC Housing Awards is an invitation to the private sector to bring forward innovative initiatives to improve affordable housing so that these ideas may be shared with communities across Canada.”

The Housing Awards Program was created in 1988 to identify, recognize, showcase and share best practices that have helped to improve the quality, choice and affordability of housing in Canada. The program honours the people and organizations creating affordable housing solutions across the country. Applications must represent private sector-led initiatives that have demonstrated a range of affordable housing solutions to meet the needs of the communities they serve. The deadline for submissions is April 16, 2010.

This program is just one way CMHC advances affordable housing solutions across Canada. CMHC also has an Affordable Housing Centre, which has a team of housing experts dedicated to working with individuals and organisations from the private, non-profit and public sectors to help them develop their affordable housing projects. They offer project-specific expertise, help determine if a housing project is financially viable, identify resources and other potential partners, and share information on what has worked in other communities.

The  Affordable Housing Centre website offers a comprehensive inventory of information, tools and resources, including a collection of more than 100 affordable housing project profiles highlighting successful approaches that have been implemented in communities across Canada.

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.

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.

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Member of the House of Assembly for Burin – Placentia West, on behalf of the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing, presided over the opening ceremony today.

“We are dedicated to helping vulnerable Canadians access suitable, affordable housing,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, 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). “Our Government will continue to invest in improvements to existing social housing both in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada, as a means to stimulate our economy during the global recession.”

“The construction of this housing complex provides seniors in the Burin area the opportunity to receive housing assistance that meets their current needs, and still remain close to family and friends,” said Minister Jackman. “The Provincial Government recently released a new long-term vision for social housing, entitled A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador — Secure Foundations. The Marystown Kinsmen Manor for Seniors is an excellent example of strengthened partnerships in action, and how such partnerships can help attain our goal of providing more viable and affordable housing options for lower-income households throughout the province.”

The Marystown Kinsmen Manor for Seniors consists of two, one-bedroom units and four, two-bedroom units, one of which is fully accessible. In addition to the funding provided under the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program, CMHC also provided $20,000 in seed funding to Marystown Kinsmen during the initial planning stages.

“We are extremely proud of this project,” said Russ Murphy, Secretary of the Board for the Manor. “It’s a very rewarding feeling to be part of a project that you know will help to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”

In Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation, the Provincial Government committed $23.6 million for housing investments throughout the province for items such as social housing renovations, energy retrofits, and social housing units for low-income seniors. Additionally, the Federal and Provincial Governments recently announced a joint investment of $93 million to build new and renovate existing affordable housing over the next two years. Overall, the provincial contribution is $50 million, and the federal government is contributing a further $43 million.

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.

CMHC has been Canada’s national housing agency for more than 60 years. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes and making vibrant and sustainable communities and cities a reality across the country.