Canadian Mortgage News

October 2009 National News Archive

Canada's Economic Action Plan Delivers Housing-Related Infrastructure Loan for the Town of Erin

ERIN, Ontario, October 13, 2009 — The Government of Canada announced today that the Town of Erin has been approved for an infrastructure loan as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

The announcement was made by the Honourable Michael Chong, Member of Parliament for Wellington – Halton Hills 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).

The Town of Erin has been approved for more than $286,000 in a low-cost loan from CMHC’s Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program (MILP), to repair and reconstruct residential streets in the hamlet of Hillsburgh.

“Our Government understands the importance of infrastructure in maintaining strong and prosperous communities,” said MP Chong. “This program is opening the door for municipalities of all sizes to meet their housing-related infrastructure needs and create jobs. It’s good news not only for Hillsburgh, but also for Ontario.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides up to $2 billion in direct low-cost loans to municipalities, over two years, for housing-related infrastructure projects through the MILP. Municipal infrastructure loans are available to any municipality in Canada and provide a new source of funds for municipalities to invest in housing-related infrastructure projects. These low cost loans can also be used by municipalities to fund their contribution for cost-shared federal infrastructure programming.

“It is a pleasure to find all levels of government working together to address the infrastructure needs of local municipalities,” said Town of Erin Mayor, Rod Finnie. “We appreciate the involvement of CMHC in providing loans for the local portion of the infrastructure costs.”

Eligible projects include infrastructure related to housing services such as water, power generation and waste services, as well as local transportation infrastructure within and into residential areas, such as roads, sidewalks, lighting and green space.

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.

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News source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)