Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Housing met August 19, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to discuss various issues regarding housing, notably their commitment to provide stable, affordable and good quality housing for their citizens.
Ministers focused on the effect their actions have on improving the lives of Canadians. In addition to providing on-going housing initiatives, provinces and territories will partner with the federal government to contribute more than $2 billion to create new affordable housing units and to renovate existing social housing stock. Jobs will be created, and renovations will improve energy efficiency and enhance accessibility. Provincial and territorial investments represent more than half the total funding.
As primary partners, and in order to complement provincial and territorial programs, Ministers look forward to early and comprehensive involvement in decisions related to the extension of the federal funding for the Affordable Housing Initiative and the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program, and Homelessness Partnering Strategy.
While the federal Minister Responsible for Housing, the Honourable Diane Finley, was not able to attend today’s meeting, provincial and territorial Ministers were pleased that the federal Minister has invited them to a meeting in the fall.
For the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister responsible for Housing, today marks the end of his term as the chair of the Provincial/Territorial Ministers’ forum. Alberta’s Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Honourable Yvonne Fritz, now assumes the role of chair for future meetings of the PT Ministers Responsible for Housing.
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Media contacts:
David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 691-3577
davidsalter@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
A variety of national housing issues were on the agenda as the Provincial and Territorial (PT) Ministers Responsible for Housing met in St. John’s on August 19. Once again, they called on the Federal Government to continue to help them bolster the national economy through further investments in affordable social housing.
“It’s been four years since we’ve had a formal housing meeting with our federal counterpart,” said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing. “We are, however pleased that Federal Minister Diane Finley has agreed to a formal federal/provincial/territorial meeting later this fall.”
The provincial ministers say their governments have shown that they are prepared to put up 50 per cent of the cost for new construction, needed renovations to existing social housing units and affordable supportive housing for seniors, persons with disabilities and persons with complex needs.
“It is vital that all levels of government come together to create a viable, long-term plan for social housing,” said Minister Taylor. “This is a great way to bolster the housing industry overall, and increased construction would certainly help improve the social housing infrastructure.”
The ministers also discussed the federal funding allocation as part of the recently announced five-year extension to the Affordable Housing Initiative, the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy. Only the first two years of funding has yet been allocated. The ministers called for a working group to be established to take up this issue for discussion at their upcoming meeting with Minister Finley.
This conference marks the end of Minister Taylor’s term as chair of the PT housing ministers’ forum. Alberta’s Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Yvonne Fritz now assumes the role of chair of future meetings of PT Ministers Responsible for Housing.
Recently, the federal and provincial governments announced a joint investment of $93 million to build new and renovate existing affordable housing throughout the province over the next two years. Overall, the provincial contribution is $50 million, with the Federal Government contributing a further $43 million.
As part of Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation, the Provincial Government will invest $14.55 million for building, renovating and retro-fitting social housing infrastructure throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Media contacts:
David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 691-3577
davidsalter@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Seniors with low and fixed incomes have a new place to call home in Lewisporte thanks to joint funding from the Provincial and Federal Governments under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program. The Ultimate Goal Retirement Village, an 18-unit seniors complex that provides below-market rental rates, was officially opened today.
The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Wade Verge, MHA for Lewisporte, on behalf of the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing, made the announcement.
“We are dedicated to helping vulnerable Canadians access suitable, affordable housing,” said Minister Finley. “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.”
“On behalf of the Provincial Government, I commend all the partners involved in this initiative,” said Mr. Verge. “The Williams Government is committed to providing our seniors with quality, affordable housing. The investment we have made to make this facility a reality is evidence of that commitment. Seniors in the Lewisporte area will benefit from this housing initiative for years to come.”
The Ultimate Goal Retirement Village consists of 18, two-bedroom units, one of which is fully accessible. Under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program, the Federal and Provincial Governments provided $280,000 towards the construction of eight units, with the proponent covering the balance of the cost for the eight units, plus the total cost of the remaining ten units.
“This is an important day for our community, and a proud day for our company,” said Bert Twyne, President of the Ultimate Goal Inc. “We are committed to providing quality accommodations to those who need it most, and we are very pleased that the Affordable Housing Program was able to assist us in fulfilling our mandate.”
Recently, the federal and provincial governments announced a joint investment of $93 million to build new and renovate existing affordable housing throughout the province over the next two years. Overall, the provincial contribution is $50 million, with the Federal Government contributing a further $43 million.
As part of Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation, the Provincial Government will invest $14.55 million for building, renovating and retro-fitting social housing infrastructure throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
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.
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Media contacts:
Jennifer Tulk
Communications Specialist
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-1758, 693-4908
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary, Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
michelle.bakos@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca
Bert Twyne
President
Ulimate Goal Inc.
709-535-2827
berttwyne@chapelstone.com
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Dawn L. Ring
Consultant-Communications and Marketing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
709-772-5973
dring@cmhc.ca
On behalf of the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing, Wade Verge, MHA for Lewisporte, along with Glenn Furlong, Corporate Representative for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, will officially open the Ultimate Goal Retirement Village. The opening is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., tomorrow (Friday, August 14) 19 Bayview Heights Extension, Lewisporte.
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Media contacts:
Jennifer Tulk
Communications Specialist
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-1758, 693-4908
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary, Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
michelle.bakos@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Dawn L. Ring
Consultant-Communications and Marketing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
709-772-5973
dring@cmhc.ca