Transportation and Works
December 17, 2010
The following is being distributed at the
request of Newfoundland Labrador Housing:
Social Housing in Labrador to Receive
$240,000 in Renovations and Retrofits
The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and
Labrador announced today $240,000 in renovation and retrofit
funding for eight social housing units in Labrador. The investment,
which is part of the federal/provincial investment in
affordable housing in Newfoundland and Labrador announced in May 2009,
will significantly extend the life of these homes.
The funding was made available through
Canada�s Economic Action Plan, the Federal Government�s plan to
stimulate the economy and create jobs across Canada during the global
recession. 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. 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.
Repairs totalling $112,000 for four units on
White Crescent in Happy Valley-Goose Bay; and $128,000 for four units in
Port Hope Simpson include the replacement of roofing, siding, windows,
doors, eaves troughs and fencing. The work is expected to be completed
early in the new year.
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 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 and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador,
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.
"Through Canada�s Economic Action Plan,
our government is taking action to help ensure our economic recovery and
create the conditions for long-term growth," said Minister MacKay.
"Funding renovation and retrofit projects like these ones is a great way
to get the local economy moving, because it puts construction workers
and tradespeople to work quickly. At the same time, we�re improving the
quality of life for residents of Labrador, keeping their homes safe and
affordable."
"This work in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and in
Port Hope Simpson will ensure that these homes will be available to
those with low incomes in Labrador for years to come," said Minister
Hedderson. "Our Provincial Government is committed, as outlined in our
long-term plan for social housing, to ensuring that we have available an
adequate and stable supply of housing options for low-income households.
Since April 2009, 133 social or community-based housing properties have
been renovated in Labrador, under this program."
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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Media contacts:
Roger Scaplen
Director of
Communications
Department of
Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
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Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland Labrador
Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
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Katherine LeBlanc
Communications
Canada Mortgage and
Housing
Corporation
902-426-6581
krleblan@cmhc.ca |
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary, Office
of Minister Finley
819-994-2482 |
2010 12 17 11:10 a.m.
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