Statement by the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development - Minister Duclos on Social Infrastructure

GATINEAU, QC, April 5, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, made the following statement:

"Investments in social infrastructure will build stronger communities─ it's about investing in people. The $3.4B investment in social infrastructure that was announced as part of Budget 2016 will be an integral part of our strategy to strengthen the middle class, promote inclusive growth for Canadians, and help lift more Canadians –including children and seniors– out of poverty. It offers immediate help to those who need it most and lays the groundwork for sustained, inclusive economic growth that will benefit Canada's middle class and those working hard to join it.            

Investments in affordable housing, early learning and child care as well as cultural and recreational infrastructure will improve the quality of life for Canadians and will strengthen communities, making them a better place to live and work, including Indigenous communities and the North. 

The Government is taking action now, with immediate investments over the next two years to:

• improve access to affordable housing for more than 100,000 low-income individuals and families, including seniors;
• repair and modernize existing social and affordable housing, including energy and water efficiency retrofits;
• repair and build housing units in First Nation communities and Inuits and in the North;
• repair and build new shelters for women and children fleeing violence, including in First Nation  communities;
• enhance services to address homelessness;
• repair and upgrade child care and health facilities on reserves;
• support over 100 community cultural and recreational infrastructure projects; and
• develop a National Early Learning and Child Care Framework over the coming year in collaboration with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities, with immediate supports to upgrade Indigenous child care resources; significant new investments will flow from the Framework as of 2017-18.

The Government of Canada is committed to working in partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners and stakeholders to improve current programs and to identify and prioritize longer-term social infrastructure needs.

These investments in social infrastructure will contribute to improving the lives of Canadians both socially and economically."

The Honourable, Jean-Yves Duclos P.C., M.P.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

Associated Link

Growth for the Middle Class – Investing in Social Infrastructure

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Minister Duclos, Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected], Follow us on Twitter; Media Relations , Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 613-748-2734, [email protected]