Moishe Alexander and Canadian Funding Corporation Review CMHC Reports

BARRIE, ONTARIO, February 19, 2010 — The Government of Canada announced today that 13 housing co-­operatives located in Ontario will receive more than $2 million, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, as part of the social housing renovation and retrofit investments.

The announcement was made by Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

“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 MP Patrick Brown. “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 local economy and create jobs.”

The Government of Canada, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, 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. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.

As of February 1, 2010, CMHC is accepting applications from eligible project sponsors for the remaining $75 million funding for Phase II of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Sponsor groups can apply online or through the mail. Eligible repairs include general improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications in support of persons with disabilities.

The housing co-operatives that will receive contributions from the Government of Canada being announced today are as follows:
Gloucester, Birchwood Meadow Housing Co-operative $386,182
Sault Ste. Marie, Cambrian Co-operative Housing Corp. $316,215
Thunder Bay, Castlegreen Co-operative Inc. $239,300
Thunder Bay, Cataraqui Cooperative Homes Inc. $92,689
Ottawa, Elmvale Housing Co-operative Inc. $246,505
Timmins, Genesis Housing Co-operative Corp. $152,150
North Bay, Genesis Housing Co-operative $142,102
Sudbury, Place Verchères $138,400
Sudbury, Robin’s Nest Co-operative Homes Inc. $133,927
Ottawa, Sandy Hill Housing Co-operative $235,405
Sudbury, The Bob and Kay Carlin Co-operative $432,586
Barrie, Three Links Co-operative Housing $180,413
North Bay, La Co-op d’habitation la Seigneurie $34,207

“In the spirit of co-operation, Three Links Co-operative Housing will continue to strive to provide quality affordable housing to future generations,” said Denise Cornish, Member of the Board of Directors, Three Links Co-operative Housing. “Thanks to the Government of Canada and CMHC, for without the grant, this work could not have been completed.”

“We congratulate and thank the federal government, Minister Finley and CMHC for making a sound investment to renovate and retrofit these non-profit housing co­operatives,” said Patrick Newman, Ontario Regional Director on the board of the Co­operative Housing Federation of Canada. “This is an excellent example of stimulus that works; it will create and preserve jobs and protect a valuable source of affordable housing for vulnerable Canadians.”
Posted by Moishe Alexander.

admin CMHC, Ontario Canada, CMHC, Co-operative, Diane Finley, Economic, Government, MP Patrick Brown, Ottawa, Plan, Sandy Hill

HAWKESBURY, ON, February 10, 2010 — The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell and the Town of Hawkesbury today celebrated the start of construction of 24 affordable rental units. The project is supported by $2.88 million in funding through the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

Pierre Lemieux, Member of Parliament for Glengarry – Prescott – Russell, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Jean-Marc Lalonde, Member of Provincial Parliament for Glengarry – Prescott – Russell on behalf of Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; along with Conrad Lamadeleine, Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, Jeanne Charlebois, Mayor of the Town of Hawkesbury, made the announcement.

“Our government is providing a hand up to those Canadians who need it the most,” said MP Pierre Lemieux. “We’re committed to making communities stronger through projects like this one here in Hawkesbury. These investments in local infrastructure will help create new jobs stimulate the local economy.”

“The province is committed to helping people who live on lower or fixed incomes stay in their home communities,” said MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde. “These 24 new affordable rental units are going to make a positive difference in the lives of the individuals living here, and make an excellent addition to the Town of Hawkesbury.”

The 24-unit project located at 300 Nelson Street received $2.88 million in funding through the two-year extension of the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program and is sponsored by the Brisson/Labelle Partnership. The building will be occupied by individuals living on low incomes, including persons with disabilities and special needs.

“It is living proof that with partnerships between various levels of governments and the private sector, we can achieve important projects like this one and this participation will allow our community to enjoy more affordable housing,” said Warden Conrad Lamadeleine.

“We welcome this new housing development in our town and we congratulate Mr. Marc-André Labelle, Mr. Dominic Labelle and Mr. Jean-Luc Brisson for the opportunity they are offering our residents seeking affordable housing” said Mayor Jeanne Charlebois.

The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for up to 20,000 households in Ontario.

In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Combined for Ontario, this means a further $1.2-billion joint investment under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.

Ontario is moving quickly to get new housing built. The province has already approved more than $224 million for construction-ready projects, which will improve access to affordable housing for low-income families, seniors and persons with disabilities across the province. It will also create jobs and strengthen local economies. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.mah.gov.on.ca.
Posted by Moishe Alexander.

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Posted by Moshe Alexander

The average rental apartment vacancy rate in Canada’s 35 major centres increased to 2.8 per cent in October 2009 from 2.2 per cent in October 2008. The centres with the highest vacancy rates in 2009 were Windsor (13.0 per cent), Abbotsford (6.1 per cent), Peterborough (6.0 per cent), Calgary (5.3 per cent), and London (5.0 per cent). On the other hand, the major urban centres with the lowest vacancy rates were Regina (0.6 per cent), Québec (0.6 per cent), St. John’s (0.9 per cent), Winnipeg (1.1 per cent), Kingston (1.3 per cent), and Victoria (1.4 per cent).

Demand for rental housing in Canada decreased due to slower growth in youth employment and improved affordability of homeownership options. Rental construction and competition from the condominium market also added upward pressure on vacancy rates.

The highest average monthly rents for two-bedroom apartments in new and existing structures were in Vancouver ($1,169), Calgary ($1,099), Toronto ($1,096), and Ottawa ($1,028). The lowest average monthly rents for two-bedroom apartments in new and existing structures were in Saguenay ($518), Trois-Rivières ($520), and Sherbrooke ($553).

Year-over-year comparison of rents in new and existing structures can be slightly misleading because rents in newly-built structures tend to be higher than in existing buildings. However, by excluding new structures, we can get a better indication of actual rent increases paid by most tenants. The average rent for two-bedroom apartments in existing structures increased in all major centres. The largest rent increases in existing structures were recorded in Regina (10.2 per cent), Saskatoon (8.3 per cent),Victoria (5.0 per cent), and St. John’s (4.9 per cent). Overall, the average rent for two-bedroom apartments in existing structures across Canada’s 35 major centres increased by 2.3 per cent between October 2008 and October 2009.

CMHC’s October 2009 Rental Market Survey also covers condominium apartments offered for rent in Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa, Québec, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto,Vancouver, and Victoria. In 2009, vacancy rates for rental condominium apartments were below two per cent in seven of the 10 centres surveyed. Rental condominium vacancy rates were the lowest in Toronto, Saskatoon, and Ottawa. However, Regina and Edmonton registered the highest vacancy rates for condominium apartments at 3.0 per cent and 3.1 per cent in 2009, respectively.

The survey showed that vacancy rates for rental condominium apartments in 2009 were lower than vacancy rates in the conventional rental market in Ottawa, Saskatoon,Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, and Calgary. The highest average monthly rents for two- bedroom condominium apartments were in Toronto ($1,487),Vancouver ($1,448), Calgary ($1,310), and Victoria ($1,223). All surveyed centres posted average monthly rents for two- bedroom condominium apartments that were higher than average monthly rents for two-bedroom private apartments in the conventional rental market in 2009.

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