Nov 16 2010
The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario announced today $15 million to fund six affordable housing projects for low-income seniors, low-income families and persons with disabilities in the Niagara Region.
Rick Dykstra, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Jim Bradley, Member of Provincial Parliament for St. Catharines and Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services , on behalf of the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, along with Peter Partington, Niagara Regional Chairman made the announcement today.
"Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, our Government is providing a hand-up to those who need it most here in the Niagara region and in all corners of the country," said MP Dykstra. "We are committed to making communities stronger through projects like these ones. These investments help create new jobs and stimulate the local economy, while providing more access to safe, affordable, barrier-free homes for people with disabilities and seniors."
"Building new affordable housing is a welcome and much-needed addition for St. Catharines," said MPP Bradley. "Today's investment reflects our Open Ontario plan to stimulate our economy by creating jobs and supporting local businesses, while providing more affordable housing opportunities for a number of residents in need in our community."
"These housing projects exemplify Niagara Region's commitment to working with our federal, provincial and municipal partners to improve access to quality, affordable housing for the people of Niagara," said Peter Partington, Chairman, Niagara Region."
Overall, six projects across Niagara Region will provide 133 affordable housing units. These projects represent provincial and federal investments of $15 million. The federal and provincial funding is complemented by $498,496 in municipal financial incentives.
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.
In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on this and provides $475 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans 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.
Source: http://www.ontario.ca