Governments of Canada and Quebec Invest in Affordable Housing in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield

SALABERRY-DE-VALLEYFIELD, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Feb. 13, 2012) - Senator Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis, 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 Lucie Charlebois, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Soulanges and Chief Government Whip for Quebec, on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy, today celebrated the official opening of the Manoir des Îles, a 24-unit residential building for semi-independent seniors, to which the governments of Canada and Quebec jointly contributed more than $1.4 million. The development of this regional initiative resulted from a total investment of over $3 million.

In addition to the Government of Canada, through Canada's Economic Action Plan, and the Government of Quebec, under the AccèsLogis Québec program of the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ), community partners contributed close to $820,000, including $420,000 from the City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

"The Government of Canada is proud to have contributed over $1.3 million to this initiative at the Manoir des Îles," said Senator Fortin-Duplessis. "Through projects like this one, Canada's Economic Action Plan continues to create jobs and stimulate the economy in Quebec's regions."

"I am pleased with the development of this residence that will provide seniors in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield with affordable housing and allow them to remain in the community to which they have become attached. It is important for our government to be involved in projects such as this one. I would like to thank all the partners who contributed to this project, in co-operation with the Société d'habitation du Québec," said MNA Lucie Charlebois, in the presence of Robert Savard, Deputy Mayor of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Pierre-Paul Messier, Chairman of the Office municipal d'habitation de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, and community partners.

It should be noted that all the tenants of the Manoir des Îles can benefit from the Rent Supplement program, which provides financial assistance to low-income individuals who would otherwise have to spend more than 25 per cent of their income on housing. The rent supplements provided will represent, over a five-year period, more than $403,000 in additional financial assistance, including over $363,000 from the SHQ and some $40,000 from the City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

The Bureau de l'efficacité et de l'innovation énergétiques of the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune has committed to supporting the project with a grant of more than $44,000 to ensure that the building meets the Novoclimat standard. The Government of Quebec and the SHQ are giving particular attention to energy efficiency, which is why all projects developed under the AccèsLogis Québec program must be designed so as to obtain the Novoclimat certification.

The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest more than $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 615,000 households living in social housing. In Quebec, this represents some 132,750 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.

To find out about how CMHC is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca.

In the 2011/2012 budget, the Government of Quebec announced that it intends to build an additional 2,000 community housing units, bringing to 32,000 units its objective of producing new affordable housing in Quebec. This represents an additional contribution of $140 million under the AccèsLogis Québec program, and brings to more than $1.4 billion the total assistance provided since 2003.

Since 2003, 2,880 community and affordable housing units have been, or are being, developed in the Montérégie region, including 88 in the riding of Beauharnois, representing total investments of over $302 million by the governments and their partners.

The SHQ's mission is to facilitate citizens' access to appropriate housing conditions. Each year, through its various programs, the SHQ supports more than 240,000 households across Quebec. For more information on this agency's programs and services, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/english.html.