Transportation and Works
July 19, 2010
The following is being distributed at the request of Newfoundland
Labrador Housing:
$762,000 for Renovation and Retrofits in St. John's
The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador today
announced that over $762,000 in renovation and retrofit work on 34
Newfoundland Labrador Housing units in St. John's is making a
significant difference to these homes.
The funding was made available through Canada's Economic Action Plan,
which is a federal plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during
the global recession. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2
billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in
loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. The Federal
and Provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall
investment of $58 million under the amended Canada-Newfoundland and
Labrador Affordable Housing Program Agreement.
The Government of Canada wants to improve the quality of existing
social housing for low-income seniors, single-parent families, recent
immigrants and Aboriginal households. Canada's Economic Action Plan
provides $850 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative to
provinces and territories for the renovation and retrofit of existing
social housing.
The funding is being used for the replacement of exterior components
such as roofing, siding, windows and doors, and interior components such
as flooring, drywall, doors, kitchen and bathroom cupboards, counters
and fixtures such as tubs, sinks and showers. The investment will
significantly extend the life of these structures.
As part of Budget 2010:
The Right Investments — For Our Children
and Our Future
, the Provincial Government is investing $27 million
for housing infrastructure projects, affordable housing and increased
maintenance funding over the coming fiscal year. This renovation and
retrofit work is also in keeping with the goals of the Provincial
Government's Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador —
Secure Foundations
, which outlines a new long-term vision for social
housing aimed at improving the housing circumstances of lower-income
households and helping to create healthier communities. A copy of the
social housing plan is available at
www.nlhc.nl.ca/SocialHsingPlan/report.pdf.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence,
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 the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister
of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for the
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, made the announcement
today.
"Our government is committed to giving a hand-up to Canadians who
need some help," said Minister MacKay. "In these tough economic times,
Canada's Economic Action Plan is providing Canadians not only with safe,
affordable housing, but also with the jobs and opportunities they need,
so they can strengthen and contribute to our communities."
"Our commitment to provide lower-income households with quality, safe
and affordable housing is continuing," said Minister Hedderson. "This
renovation announcement is another example of how Newfoundland Labrador
Housing has used its federal/provincial funding to make the most of
upgrading our social housing portfolio throughout the province and to
ensure that we have viable housing options for future generations."
Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada's
commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to
improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.
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.
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