NLIS 9 May 27, 2003 (Municipal and Provincial Affairs) The following is being distributed at the request of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation: Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador sign $30 million affordable housing agreement Steven Mahoney, Secretary of State responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Gerry Byrne, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), Oliver Langdon, Newfoundland and Labrador�s Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and minister responsible for housing, and Tom Lush, provincial Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, announced today the signing of a $30.28 million Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Agreement. This will create approximately 600 affordable housing units in the province over the next four years. "More residents of Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to access affordable housing thanks to this agreement," said Secretary of State Mahoney. "I look forward to seeing the first projects come to fruition now that we have completed this important step." "This is good news for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador and will generate economic benefits in addition to meeting housing needs," noted Minister Byrne. Minister Langdon commented: "Today�s agreement is indeed a positive step for the development and enhancement of supportive housing needs and affordable rental housing in Newfoundland and Labrador. It also represents a significant investment in the lives of many people, and will contribute to their health and independence." Tom Lush, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, welcomed the signing of the Affordable Housing Agreement and said: "This agreement is an excellent example of government partnership in action to meet specific public policy objectives." Funding under this agreement will be used for two provincially-designed programs. One will stimulate the production of new affordable rental housing and the rehabilitation of severely deteriorated existing rental housing for low to moderate-income households. The other will assist new affordable homeownership housing, and the rehabilitation of severely deteriorated affordable housing for ownership by low to moderate-income households in Labrador. Stimulating the creation of more affordable housing was part of the Government of Canada�s Speech From the Throne, in January 2001 and the $680 million in federal funding was confirmed in the December 2001 federal budget. The 2003 federal budget added an additional $320 million bringing the total investment in affordable housing to $1 billion by the end of 2007-08.\ Individuals and organizations may obtain additional information about the Affordable Housing Initiative by contacting the Programs Division of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing at: (709) 724-3123. For further information, please contact: Christopher Vivone Jenny Bowring, Lynn Hammond Todd Selby Affordable Housing Program Agreement Summary Objectives:
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Background: The 2001 Speech From the Throne indicated the Government of Canada would help stimulate the creation of more affordable rental housing. The federal/provincial/ territorial housing ministers met twice in 2001 to finalize details of an affordable housing initiative that would address the needs and priorities of individual jurisdictions while meeting the goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing. The final framework was developed and agreed to on November 30, 2001 and includes the following:
The 2001 federal budget confirmed $680 million for this initiative. Bilateral agreements have been signed with British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut and Prince Edward Island. The addition of $320 million for affordable housing in the 2003 federal budget will build on the initial $680 million. This will bring the total federal investment in affordable housing to $1 billion by the end of 2007-08. Other Government of Canada Housing Support in Newfoundland and Labrador The $15.14 million federal contribution over the next four years builds on current Government of Canada expenditures on housing in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Government of Canada annually supports housing, with approximately $63 million in grants, contributions and subsidies which serve approximately 12,600 low-income families, seniors, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal people and victims of domestic violence. As part of the 2003 federal budget, CMHC�s renovation programs, which help low-income Canadians, will be extended by $384 million over three years. Further information is available from the CMHC web site: www.cmhc.ca Other Government of Canada Housing Support in Newfoundland and Labrador Through Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), the provincial government provides safe and affordable housing to approximately 18,000 individuals through the following federal/provincial cost-shared programs:
Further program details are available from the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation web site: www.cmhc.ca 2003 05 27 4:45 p.m. |
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