The following is being distributed at the request of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation:

Painting contract awarded for NLHC housing units

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) has awarded C.P. Whittle Painting and Contracting a $136,000 contract to paint exterior walls and trim on 115 social housing units throughout the St. John�s North and West area. Paul Shelley, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, Responsible for NLHC, Sheila Osborne, MHA for St. John�s West, and Bob Ridgley, MHA, St. John�s North, made the announcement today.

�This painting contract illustrates NLHC�s commitment to maintaining its housing portfolio and represents a significant investment in sustaining corporation rental units,� said Minister Shelley. �As always, the corporation continually assesses the conditions of its properties and addresses those that need the most work first.�

�The funding announcement for this project is welcome news,� said Sheila Osborne, MHA for St. John�s West. �These improvements will make a vast difference in the properties, and will likely also help increase local property values.�

�I�m very pleased to hear about this contract being awarded,� commented Bob Ridgley, area MHA for St. John�s North. �About 83 of those units are located in the St. John�s North district, and being in touch with my constituents from the area on a regular basis, I know they are thrilled that this much-needed work has begun.�

This contract is the first phase of a three-stage maintenance plan to complete exterior painting on units in NLHC�s Avalon Regional Office area during the 2005�06 construction season. Work under this current contract includes units on Blackmarsh Road, Hamlyn Road, and Gros Morne Place, in St. John�s West, and Nascopie Crescent, New Pennywell and Crobsie Road and Empire Avenue in St. John�s North. The painting began in early July and is expected to be completed by September 30, 2006.

Media contact: Jenny Bowring, NLHC, (709) 724-3055

2006 08 11                                  9:50 a.m.