The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing (Housing), today announced that Shears� Electrical and Construction has been awarded a $32,000 contract to upgrade eight housing units in Fortune.

"Work is underway throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to bring our social housing properties back on track and this is another project in that direction," said Minister Hedderson. "Maintaining the long-term reliability and quality of the province�s social housing stock is a firm commitment of the Williams Government as indicated in our social housing plan released in August."

The work involves roofing renovations to eight units located in two social housing buildings on Brunette Avenue. The anticipated completion date for this project is early 2010.

"I am pleased to see these renovations take place on Brunette Avenue," said the Honourable Darin King, MHA for Grand Bank. "I am also pleased to be a member of a Provincial Government that puts investments in social housing high up on its agenda."

This work is in keeping with the goals of the 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.

These current upgrades and repairs are part of Housing�s annual Modernization and Improvement program. As part of Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation, the Provincial Government will invest $14.55 million for building, renovating and retro-fitting social housing infrastructure throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

In the spring, the federal and provincial governments announced a joint investment of $93 million to build new, and renovate existing, affordable housing throughout the province over the next two years. Overall, the provincial contribution is $50 million, with the Federal Government contributing a further $43 million.

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