Canadian Funding Corp Reviews CMHC Affordable Housing Reports

Canadian Funding Corp on CMHC Report – The Government of Canada announced today an investment of more than $4.5 million as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to improve housing conditions for Mashteuiatsh and the Innu Nation.

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), 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 along with Marjolaine Étienne, Vice-Chief for external affairs of the Montagnais Council of Lac-Saint-Jean and councillor responsible for the economy, public works and housing.

“Our Government’s Economic Action Plan is delivering support for improvements in housing conditions for members who live in First Nation communities in Quebec, and we are also stimulating the local economy by creating jobs,” said Minister of State Lebel.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has committed $400 million over the next two years to help First Nation communities build needed new housing, repair and remediate existing non-profit housing for their members, and complement housing programs offered by CMHC. This investment will also provide an economic stimulus for many First Nations and surrounding areas by creating jobs.

The application calls for the year one (2009/2010) new funding initiatives under Canada’s Economic Action Plan were very successful and generated a large number of applications. As a result, CMHC will be fully allocating all the available funding for the fiscal year.

The year two (2010/2011) application call is about to open. Applications for this second round of funding will be accepted between February 1, 2010, and February 22, 2010.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, some $45 million in federal investments will be made available to First Nations in Quebec to address immediate housing needs.

Under the initiative, CMHC is investing more than $4.5 million to retrofit 268 social housing units in nine communities and help build nine new units in three Innu communities in Quebec. The communities receiving funding are as follows: Pessamit, Ekuanitshit, Essipit, Mashteuiatsh, Matimekush, Natashquan, Pakua Shipi, Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam and Unamen Shipu.

“In Mashteuiatsh, the funding initiative has helped to meet the most immediate needs, through the performance of different renovations to 83 housing units, some 15 of which had major work carried out on them. We hope to be able to continue improving our homes with initiatives of this type over the coming months and years, as we are concerned about the preservation and development of our overall housing stock,” said Vice-Chief Étienne.

The Government of Canada announced today that four housing co-operatives will receive $751,232, as part of the social housing renovation and retrofit investments announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

The announcement was made in Saguenay by the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government 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 that they administer on behalf of the partnership. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC for existing federally assisted off-reserve housing that it directly administers. Repairs that are eligible for funding include general improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of people with disabilities.

“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 the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn. “Funding renovation and retrofit projects, like these ones, will not only improve the quality of life of the residents by keeping their homes safe and affordable but also help stimulate the economy and create jobs.”

On February 1, 2010, CMHC will begin accepting applications from eligible project sponsors for the remaining $75 million funding for year two. Sponsor groups can apply online or through the mail. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of people with disabilities.

The housing co-operatives that will receive contributions from the Government of Canada being announced today are:

Coopérative d’habitation Place des Lilas, $401,310

Coopérative d’habitation Adélard-Plourde, $12,642

Coopérative d’habitation Lanjevine, $59,800

Coopérative d’habitation Habitat 2000, $277,480

“The financial contributions provided under the federal renovation and retrofit initiative administered by CMHC will benefit the residents of Place des Lilas,” said Louis Boily, Chair of the Board of Directors, Place des Lilas. “In fact, these funds will serve to renovate the windows and retrofit the heating system to ensure the quality of life of our families. We are very pleased to have received this funding, which will help improve the comfort and safety of our residents.”

Northern construction and technical experts from the Nunavut Housing Corporation are on hand this week to learn how to assemble pre-built housing units before their expected delivery to the Northern territory’s communities in 2010.

Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Stormont – Dundas – South Glengarry, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), along with the Honourable Hunter Tootoo, Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Homelessness, and the Qulliq Energy Corporation, and Peter Scott, President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation, attended the Northern housing demonstration build at the Illamar Marshalling Yards today.

The funding for this new housing is part of a combined federal-territorial investment of $112 million over two years, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan which is providing a one-time investment of more than $2 billion to build new and renovate existing social housing in Canada. The investment in Nunavut includes a federal investment of $100 million for Northern housing, which does not require cost-sharing by the territory, as well as a further $12 million, equally cost-shared for new housing for seniors and persons with disabilities and for the renovation and retrofit for existing federally assisted social housing.

The pre-built housing units use Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). Given the North’s relatively short construction season, SIP housing units can be closed-in very quickly, allowing interior finish work to continue throughout the fall and winter weather conditions. As many as 141 SIP units will be delivered to Nunavut communities in 2010.

“The foundation you are laying is helping to create a long-term vision to address housing affordability in the North,” said MP Lauzon. “This comes at a time when we’re building real momentum for progress and recognizing the distinct needs of the North. This investment will also provide an economic stimulus for Northern residents by creating jobs.”

“The use of SIP housing units is one of many means used by the Housing Corporation in the continuing effort, which is shared by Ottawa and the Corporation’s community partners, to meet Nunavut’s housing needs,” said Minister Tootoo. “SIP units far exceed energy efficiency standards, and that will mean less operating and maintenance costs in a harsh Arctic environment.”

Video footage of ice fishing in Nunavut