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: March 18, 2010 at 9:42 am | Tags: Action, Atikamekw, behalf, Bernard Généreux, canada, Chief Ottawa, CMHC, Conseil, Diane Finley, Economic, economy, Eva Ottawa, Funding, government, Grand, Housing Market, investment, Manawan, Minister Responsible, MP Généreux, Nation, ottawa, Paul Émile, Plan, Quebec, today
The Government of Canada announced today an investment of more than $2.2 million as part of the year one funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan to improve housing conditions for the Atikamekw and Mi’kmaq First Nation communities.
Bernard Généreux, Member of Parliament for Montmagny – L’Islet – Kamouraska – Rivière-du-Loup, 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 today, along with Paul Émile Ottawa, Chief of the Conseil des Atikamekw de Manawan, on behalf of Eva Ottawa, Grand Chief of the Conseil de la Nation Atikamekw.
“Our Government’s Economic Action Plan is creating jobs, stimulating the local economy and improving housing conditions for First Nation communities in Quebec,” said MP Généreux.
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 $45 million in federal investments will be made available to First Nations in Quebec to address immediate housing needs.
CMHC is allocating more than $1.6 million to Opitciwan and Manawan for the construction of three new social housing units and to retrofit 53 existing social housing units. Listuguj and Gesgapegiag are receiving $664,500 for the construction of two new social housing units and to retrofit 41 existing social housing units. This funding will go along way to help improve housing conditions in these First Nation communities.
“Responding to the housing needs of our people remains our top priority. What has been accomplished in the Atikamekw communities thanks to Canada’s Economic Action Plan is very commendable and greatly appreciated,” said Grand Chief Ottawa.
More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.
Posted: March 10, 2010 at 3:28 pm | Tags: Alexander, Analysis, Atlantic, Bob Dugan, British Columbia, canada, cent, Chief Economist, CMHC, Corporation, February, gain, Housing Market, increase, January, market, Moishe, Mortgage, Ontario, Prairie, Quebec, Rate, segment, Starts, Toronto, Urban
The seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of housing starts reached 196,700 units in February 2010. This is an increase from an annual rate of 185,400 units in January 2010, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Posted by Moishe Alexander
“The gain in February housing starts was concentrated in the multiple starts segment, particularly in Toronto,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre.
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 9.0 per cent to 179,100 units in February. Urban multiple starts increased by 19.1 per cent to 89,900 units while single urban starts increased by 0.5 per cent to 89,200 units.
February’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 28.6 per cent in Ontario, by 14.3 per cent in Atlantic Canada, by 10.8 per cent in the Prairie region and by 8.0 per cent in British Columbia. In Quebec, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts decreased by 14.1 per cent.
