Canadian Mortgage News

June 2009 National News Archive

Canada’s Economic Action Plan Makes Housing a Priority

ST ÉTIENNE DE LAUZON, Quebec, June 06, 2009 — Low-income Canadians, including seniors and persons with disabilities will be well served by funding to renovate and build new social housing across Canada, thanks to Canada’s Economic Action Plan, Jacques Gourde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue, and Member of Parliament for Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, highlighted today, while visiting Coopérative d’habitation St Étienne de Lauzon.

“Housing is a priority for our government,” said Parliamentary Secretary Gourde. “People across Canada, including seniors, persons with disabilities, First Nations, and those living in Canada’s North, will benefit from this investment that will help to ensure that we continue to offer safe and affordable housing to Canadians.“

Canada’s Economic Action Plan includes more than $2 billion to build new and renovate existing social housing. Of the $2 billion: $1 billion is for renovations and upgrades; $475 million is for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities; $400 million is for on-reserve communities; and $200 million is for housing in the North.

“Since our government made this announcement in January, we have been making real progress.” added Parliamentary Secretary Gourde. “The spin-off benefits are tremendous. We’re putting Canada’s economy back on the path to growth and making a real and lasting difference for Canadians coast-to-coast-to coast.”

As Canada’s national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.

More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, a plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-O Canada.

For more information on CMHC’s initiatives for Canadians and communities under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, CMHC’s website at: www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan or by phone at 1-800-668-2642.

Media inquiries:

Kristen Scheel
CMHC Media Relations
613-316-2949

Michelle Bakos
Office of the Honourable Diane Finley
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
613-218-9288

Jacques Gourde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue, and Member of Parliament for Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, highlighted today, while visiting Coopérative d’habitation St Étienne de Lauzon that Canada’s Economic Action Plan includes more than $2 billion to build new and renovate existing social housing.

News source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)