The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the Region of York celebrated the start of construction of 144 affordable housing units in two projects in the City of Vaughan today. The projects are supported by $10.1 million in funding under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program. Lois Brown, Member of Parliament for Newmarket – Aurora, 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); Greg Sorbara, Member of Provincial Parliament for Vaughan, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Region of York Chair, Bill Fisch; Linda Jackson, Mayor of the City of Vaughan; and Kenneth McAlister, President of Hesperus Fellowship Village attended the event. “Vaughan seniors’ will soon have access to more affordable rental housing options,” said MP Brown. “Investments like these are helping low-income seniors to continue to live independently in their communities, close to family and friends.” “Our government knows that access to decent affordable housing is essential to the health and well-being of our communities,” said MPP Sorbara. “The projects we are celebrating today will make a positive and significant difference in the lives of the people who will call them home.” Today’s announcement recognized two affordable housing projects in Vaughan: * Hesperus Village — a 60-unit project, sponsored by Hesperus Fellowship Village received $4.2 million in funding under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The units will be occupied by seniors living on low income. * Mapleglen Residences — an 84-unit project, sponsored by the Regional Municipality of York received $5.9 million in funding under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The units will be occupied by seniors living on low income. The federal and provincial allocations to the projects were complemented by municipal financial incentives. The Regional Municipality of York contributed $1.2 million for Hesperus Village and $14 million for Mapleglen Residences. The City of Vaughan also contributed to these projects by waiving $133,000 in development charges for Hesperus Village and by providing a long-term lease at a nominal fee, for the 2.1 acre lot where Mapleglen Residences will be located. “York Region’s contribution of more than $15 million for these two projects demonstrates our strong commitment to creating safe and affordable accommodation for York Region residents who need it the most,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. “These projects are also great examples of what can happen when all levels of government and the community successfully work together.” “Hesperus Village is delighted to expand by making an additional sixty affordable rental units possible with multi-level government support,” said Dr. McAlister. “This will be a significant reduction of the length and age of existing waiting lists. Future residents are looking forward to experiencing holistic aging on a natural and intergenerational campus.” The Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement, signed in 2005, 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.
Posts Tagged ‘Jim Watson’
The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the Regional Municipality of Durham today celebrated the start of construction of four new affordable housing projects, and the near-completion of one project. The projects are supported by $11.2 million in funding under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program to create 160 affordable housing units.
Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa, 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); Joe Dickson, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ajax – Pickering, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Regional Chair Roger Anderson; and affordable housing sponsors Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation, Ajax Municipal Housing Corporation, TGFG Ventures, Inc., and Cher-Brook Properties Inc., attended the event.
“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in Ontario and across Canada for those who need it most,” said MP Carrie. “These projects are helping low-income families access safe and suitable housing, and build a stronger future for themselves.”
“Our government knows that providing affordable housing is one of the most important ways we can help our citizens,” said MPP Dickson. “The projects we are celebrating today, such as the 82-unit residence in Ajax, will make a positive difference in the lives of the people who will call them home.”
Today’s announcement recognized five affordable housing projects in the Region of Durham:
- A 32-unit project in Oshawa for individuals living in low-income and individuals with special needs, sponsored by TGFG Ventures Inc. The $3.9 million project received more than $2.2 million under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
- An 82-unit project in Ajax for individuals living on low-income, sponsored by Ajax Municipal Housing Corporation. The $13.7 million project received more than $5.7 million in funding under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
- A 29-unit project in Oshawa for individuals living on low-income and individuals with special needs, sponsored by Cher-Brook Properties Inc. The $5.1 million dollar project received more than $2 million in funding under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
- A 5-unit project in Uxbridge for seniors, sponsored by Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation. This $666,655 project received $350,000 under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
- A 12-unit project in Oshawa for individuals living on low-incomes, sponsored by Durham Regional Local Housing Corporation. The $2.8 million project received $840,000 under the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
The federal and provincial allocations to the projects were complemented by over $4.5 million in municipal financial incentives.
“Today’s event is a celebration of affordable housing in Durham Region,” stated Regional Chair Roger Anderson. “We are appreciative of the funding commitment provided by our provincial and federal partners. We will continue to work in co-operation with them to help ensure that the residents of Durham Region have access to affordable housing for years to come.”
The Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement, signed in 2005, 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.
Last fall, 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.