Governments of Canada and Quebec Invest in Affordable Housing in Chateauguay

CHATEAUGUAY, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Jan. 31, 2011) - The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, 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 Pierre Moreau, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) for Châteauguay and Chief Government Whip, on behalf of Laurent Lessard, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, are pleased to announce that the governments of Canada and Quebec are jointly contributing more than $1.3 million to the Société locative d'investissement et de développement social of Châteauguay for the purchase of a building and the performance of renovations that will result in a project with 24 community housing units for families and individuals. The development of this great initiative will require a total investment of over $2.9 million.

In addition to the Government of Canada, through the Affordable Housing Initiative Program Extension Agreement, and the Government of Quebec, under the AccèsLogis Québec program of the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ), the municipality of Châteauguay contributed more than $400,000. This last amount is repaid by the Montréal Metropolitan Community out of the social housing fund to which the 82 municipalities on its territory contribute.

"Our government is dedicated to giving a hand-up to those in need, which is why we are proud to have invested in this project here in Châteauguay," said Minister Paradis. "These units will be more than just safe and affordable places to live. They will be the key to a better life for the residents who will call them home."

"I know that this was a long-awaited project, and that's why I am proud to announce that our government will contribute significantly to its development through the Société d'habitation du Québec. Thanks to the combined efforts of the different partners, a number of families and individuals from Châteauguay will soon benefit from safe, comfortable housing units, at an affordable cost," said MNA Pierre Moreau, in the presence of Marcel Deschamps, Councillor for the city of Châteauguay, Andrée McDonald, President of the Société locative d'investissement et de développement social, and community partners.

It should be noted that 12 tenants of the project will be able to 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 $188,000 in additional financial assistance, including some $169,000 from the SHQ and close to $19,000 from the municipality of Châteauguay.

In 2008, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over five years for housing and homelessness programs. This investment extended the Affordable Housing Initiative and the renovation programs for low-income households. Canada's Economic Action Plan also provides for an investment of more than $2 billion in new and existing social housing. For Quebec, these combined contributions mean an additional joint investment of more than $820 million under the Agreement concerning certain residential renovation and adaptation programs, as well as the Affordable Housing Initiative Program Extension Agreement, which includes $538 million for Canada's Economic Action Plan.

In addition, Canada's Economic Action Plan provides for up to $2 billion in funds to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

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. For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, call 1­800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca

The SHQ is giving particular attention to energy efficiency. In fact, since June 1, 2010, all projects developed under the AccèsLogis Québec program must be designed so as to obtain the Novoclimat certification.

In the 2010/2011 budget, the Government of Quebec announced that it intends to build an additional 3,000 community housing units, bringing to 30,000 units its objective of producing new affordable social housing in Quebec. This represents an additional contribution of $210 million under the AccèsLogis Québec program, and brings to $1.3 billion the total assistance provided since 2003.

Since 2003, more than 2,700 community housing units have been, or are being, developed in the Montérégie region, including 374 in the riding of Châteauguay, representing total investments of more than $281 million by the governments and their partners.

The SHQ's mission is to facilitate citizens' access to appropriate housing conditions. For more information on this agency's programs and services, visit www.habitation.gouv.qc.ca/en/index.html.