Canada's Economic Action Plan creates jobs and improves social housing in
Prince Edward Island

O'LEARY, PEI, Feb. 18 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada announced today an investment of almost $780,000 as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to improve housing conditions for much needed social housing renovation and retrofit both on and off reserve.

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), made the announcement.

"Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, our government is taking concrete action to help ensure our economic recovery and create the conditions for long-term growth," said Minister Shea. "Funding new construction, and renovation and retrofit projects like these on and off reserve projects will not only improve the overall housing conditions, andquality of life of its residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable for years to come, but also help stimulate the local economy and create jobs."

As of February 1, 2010, CMHC is accepting applications for year two funding of the Renovation and Retrofit Initiatives for both on and off reserve, and applications for New Construction funding on-reserve. Applications for this second round of funding will be accepted between February 1, 2010 and February 22, 2010.

Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, over $180,000 in federal investments are being announced today for First Nations in Prince Edward Island to help address immediate housing needs. Abegweit First Nation are receiving funding to retrofit seven existing social housing units and Lennox Island First Nation are receiving funding to build one new social housing unit and retrofit four existing social housing units. This funding will help improve housing conditions in these First Nation communities.

"The CEAP Retrofit and New Construction funding has had a great impact on the Lennox Island First Nation community", said Chief Darlene Bernard. "We were very pleased to access this funding to carry out repairs to a four unit apartment building and to provide much needed additional new housing for our community."

The projects off reserve being announced today that will receive contributions from the Government of Canada of almost $600,000 are:

    
    O'Leary Legion Development                       $ 29, 936.00

    Confederation Housing Cooperative                $ 18, 060.00

    Corinthian Community Homes Ltd.                  $ 56, 585.00

    Home Base Inc.                                   $ 26, 616.00

    Kings Square Co-operative                        $ 128,900.00

    Kings Square Non-Profit Housing Corporation       $ 94,896.00

    Parkdale Sherwood Lions                           $ 80,737.00

    Home Base Inc                                     $ 55,075.00

    Island View Housing Co-Operative                  $ 60,380.00

    Westridge Estates Co-operative Ltd                $ 18,078.00

    Queens County Residential Services                $ 10,003.00

    Sunrise Lodge Inc                                  $ 9,985.00

    Home Base Inc                                      $ 7,486.00
    

"The O'Leary Legion Senior Development Complex was very pleased to receive funding under the Renovation and Retrofit Initiative, for our aging furnace," said Bruce Gallant, Board of Directors of Jubilee Home. "It will also allow us to replace our doors with more modern wheel chair accessible ones."

"The Parkdale-Sherwood Lions Corporation prides itself in providing an up-to-date residence for the seniors living at Lions Place," added Dave Blanchard, Manager of Lions Place. "With the funding we have received to replace the siding and insulation and to install new automatic doors we will be providing a much more comfortable living environment and easy access to the building. We will be saving energy with less heat required and will continue to provide affordable housing for our seniors."

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.

Backgrounder attached.

INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE ON-RESERVE SOCIAL HOUSING

As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada announced $1 billion for social housing renovation and retrofit. Of the $1 billion, $850 million is being delivered by provinces and territories on a cost-matched basis for existing federally assisted social housing projects which they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing which it directly administers, which includes the funding being announced today. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.

The Government of Canada is also committed to supporting First Nations through targeted investments to build and renovate housing. Today's announcement is the latest in a series of commitments by the federal government to improve housing conditions in First Nations communities.

This commitment is in addition to the federal government's annual investment, through Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), of approximately $277 million for on-reserve housing needs, and INAC's investment of approximately $118 million annually for First Nations on-reserve in the form of shelter allowance payments under the Income Assistance Program.

Under Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has provided $400 million over the next two years to support on-reserve housing. Of the $400 million committed, $250 million will be delivered through CMHC over two years for the creation of new on-reserve housing ($125 million) and the repair and renovation of existing federally-assisted on-reserve social housing ($125 million). The remaining $150 million will be delivered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) for lot servicing, renovations, new construction of high-density multi-unit dwellings, and renovations to support the conversion of band-owned housing to private ownership.

In 2007, the Government invested $300 million in the First Nations Market Housing Fund, which encourages market-based housing on-reserve and could create 25,000 new housing units over the next decade.

For further information: Media: Emely Poitras-Benedict, Communications, CMHC Atlantic Business Centre, [phone]; Charles Sauriol, CMHC Media Relations, [phone]; Michelle Bakos, Press Secretary, Office of Minister Finley, [phone]