GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN REACH AGREEMENT ON DELIVERY OF INVESTMENTS FOR CANADIANS IN HOUSING

The Government of Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan today announced a combined investment of more than $55 million under a new affordable housing agreement that will continue to reduce the number of households in housing need.

The agreement comes as a result of the recently announced Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 Framework Agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments. The Framework recognizes the diversity of affordable housing needs of Canadians and that a range of solutions - from existing programs to new approaches - is most effective in meeting local needs and priorities. Under this Framework, provinces and territories have responsibility for the design and delivery of affordable housing programs in order to address their own specific housing needs and priorities in their jurisdictions.

The province will fully cost-match the federal funding and deliver provincially-designed housing programs. The agreement provides the Province with the flexibility to make investments to achieve the overall objective of the Framework: to reduce the number of Canadians in housing need by improving access to affordable housing that is sound, suitable and sustainable. Initiatives can include new construction, renovation, homeownership assistance, rent supplements, shelter allowances, and accommodations for victims of family violence. Under the new agreement, the Province of Saskatchewan will use the funds to create new and renovate existing affordable housing for households in need.

Both orders of government will report annually to the public regarding the investments and progress toward achieving the intended outcomes of the initiative.

Lynne Yelich, Minister of State, Western Economic Diversification, on behalf of Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) along with Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation June Draude made the announcement today.

"Our government is committed to working with the Province of Saskatchewan to develop and implement solutions to housing," said Yelich. "This agreement recognizes the need for local solutions to housing challenges."

"We are pleased to work with the Government of Canada to ensure that affordable housing programs will continue to meet the needs of Saskatchewan people," Draude said. "Collaboration is a key ingredient in creating a Saskatchewan where everyone has a place to call home and this investment will allow the federal and provincial governments to move forward together in creating housing solutions."

In September 2008, the Government of Canada committed to a five-year investment of more than $1.9 billion in housing and homelessness to address the needs of low-income Canadians, those at risk of homelessness, and the homeless. This included a two-year renewal of the Affordable Housing Initiative and renovation programs until March 31, 2011 with a commitment to consult on the use of the investments for the 2011-2014 period.

In the fall of 2009, federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as municipalities, public and private stakeholders, engaged on how best to use federal funding from 2011 to 2014. Federal, provincial and territorial housing ministers also met in December 2009 to discuss the future of these investments.

The federal investments announced today are part of the Government of Canada's $1.9 billion commitment for housing and homelessness programs announced in 2008. Canada's Economic Action Plan built on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing, plus $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

For more information on the Government of Saskatchewan's housing programs, visit http://www.socialservices.gov.sk.ca/housing.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada, through CMHC, is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Charles Sauriol
CMHC
Phone: 613-748-2799

Alyson Queen
Office of Minister Finley
Phone: 819-994-2482

Linda Saliken
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0246
Email: linda.saliken@gov.sk.ca