Posted: March 22, 2010 at 8:21 am | Tags: Action, canada, CMHC, community, construction, Dakota, Diane Finley, government, Honourable, Housing Market, investment, Jobs, Minister Responsible, Minister Yelich, Nation, part, Plan, project, Sandy Hutchens, Saskatchewan, Western Economic, Whitecap
Posted by Moishe Alexander
The Government of Canada announced today an investment of $20.7 million, as part of the year one funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan to improve housing conditions for First Nation communities across Saskatchewan.
The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), made the announcement along with members of the Whitecap Dakota community.
“Our Government’s Economic Action Plan is creating jobs, stimulating the local economy and improving housing conditions for First Nation communities in Saskatchewan,” said Minister Yelich.
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has committed $400 million over two years to help First Nation communities build needed new housing, repair and remediate existing non-profit housing for their members, and complement housing programs offered by CMHC. This investment will also provide an economic stimulus for many First Nations and surrounding areas by creating jobs.
Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, some $60 million in federal investments will be made available to First Nations in Saskatchewan to address immediate housing needs.
CMHC will allocate more than $9.1 million to retrofit over 650 housing units on-reserve in Saskatchewan, as well as $11.5 million for subsidy associated with 63 new housing units to be constructed in seven First Nations communities in Saskatchewan.
“Our First Nation is very pleased to be part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Greater energy efficiency is important to every one of the family members who live in these retrofitted homes. And this investment is also very important to our Whitecap community which continues to grow,” said Chief Darcy Bear, Whitecap Dakota. “In order to ensure the work could be undertaken on time and completed on schedule, we have witnessed yet another positive outcome of this investment with the creation of Whitecap Construction, the community owned company that is undertaking the construction project. Our families, our workforce with its journeymen and apprentices, along with our entire community is, by far, the better for this project.”
Posted: November 24, 2009 at 7:53 am | Tags: Affordable, Awards, canada, Centre, CMHC, country, Housing Market, information, Karen Kinsley, National, Program, project, showcase
Posted by Moishe Alexander
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.
Posted: November 24, 2009 at 7:44 am | Tags: 89 ½ Fairview Avenue, Affordable, canada, community, Diane Finley, government, Housing Market, Mayor Cliff Barwick, Ontario, Parliament, project, St. Thomas, St.Thomas, St. Thomas, Steve Peters
Posted by Moishe Alexander
The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of St.Thomas celebrated the start of construction of 12 affordable rental units in two housing developments. The developments are supported by over $924,000 in funding through the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin – Middlesex – London, 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), and Steve Peters, Member of Provincial Parliament for Elgin – Middlesex – London on behalf of the Government of Ontario; along with Cliff Barwick, Mayor of St.Thomas, made the announcement.
“This is great news for families in St.Thomas,” said MP Preston. “These new apartments will provide suitable, affordable housing for deserving families, and create jobs in our community.”
“New housing initiatives add significant support to the provincial government’s efforts to reduce poverty,” said MPP Peters. “The Government of Ontario will continue to work with its federal and municipal partners to ensure new affordable housing units are built during the life of this program.”
Today’s announcement recognized two affordable housing projects funded through the two-year extension of the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program:
- Funding of $480,000 for a six-unit affordable housing project for low-income households at 89 ½ Fairview Avenue.
- Funding of $444,000 for a six-unit affordable housing project for low-income households at 5 Park Avenue.
“The City of St. Thomas is very grateful to the federal and provincial governments for providing financial assistance under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program,” said Mayor Cliff Barwick. “This new apartment building will provide much-needed affordable housing for twelve families in the community.”
The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement 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.