SOCIAL HOUSING IN SASKATCHEWAN BEING RENOVATED

The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan today announced $31 million in joint funding for improvements to more than 247 projects in 97 communities in southern locations of Saskatchewan.

The funding was made available through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment of $132 million under the amended Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Program Agreement.

The Government of Canada wants to improve the quality of existing social housing for low-income seniors, single parent families, recent immigrants and Aboriginal households. Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $850 million under the Affordable Housing Initiative to provinces and territories for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing.

The announcement took place today in Regina at Cornwall Village Housing Co-operative, a 91-unit highrise for low- and moderate-income seniors. A total of $1.8 million is being provided by the Government of Canada and Saskatchewan for elevator, boiler and air handling system replacement and window repairs. The approved work for the 247 projects announced today will be completed through 2010-11.

Andrew Scheer, Member of Parliament for Regina-Qu'Appelle, on behalf of Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); and First Nations and Métis Relations Minister Bill Hutchinson on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Donna Harpauer, made the announcement today.

"Through Year 2 of Canada's Economic Action Plan, our Government remains committed to giving a hand-up to those who need it most here in Saskatchewan," said Scheer. "Projects like these are especially valuable during these tough economic times, because they put construction workers and tradespeople to work quickly while also providing needed improvements to housing throughout the country."

"Our government is committed to improving housing availability and affordability in Saskatchewan," Hutchinson said. "This investment will ensure that safe, affordable and well-maintained housing will be available to people who need assistance. It's more important than ever to work together to develop housing solutions that will benefit Saskatchewan citizens and revitalize communities. Cornwall Village, and other renovation projects like it, is an example of that."

Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada's commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over the next five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

The amendment to the Canada-Saskatchewan Affordable Housing Program Agreement, which included funding under Canada's Economic Action Plan, signed in May 2009, brought federal housing support of $74 million to the province. The Government of Saskatchewan will match that commitment for a total of $148 million to assist those in housing need and, in collaboration with other levels of government and community partners, to make various types of affordable housing programs possible. In Saskatchewan, federal-provincial housing programs are delivered through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

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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For more information, contact:

Michelle Bakos
Office of Minister Finley
Phone: 819-994-2482

Kimberlee Jones
CMHC
Calgary
Phone: 403-515-3048

Linda Saliken
Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246