Social Housing Being Renovated in Greater Sudbury

SUDBURY, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 25, 2011) - The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario today announced that the ridings of Sudbury and Nickel Belt have received more than $9.4 million to repair 2,708 existing social housing units through the Social Housing Renovation and Retrofit Program.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Honourable Rick Bartolucci, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, along with Mayor Marianne Matichuk of Greater Sudbury, made the announcement. 

"In Northern Ontario and throughout the country, Canada's Economic Action Plan is working," said Minister Finley. "Renovation projects like these are putting construction workers and tradespeople to work quickly, while at the same time providing needed improvements to housing."

"Housing is much more than bricks and mortar, it's about people and building lives," said Minister Bartolucci. "Making social housing safer and more energy efficient is part of our Open Ontario Plan, and will help make a positive difference for the people right here in Greater Sudbury."

"Social housing provides essential services to some of our community's most vulnerable citizens," said Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk. "I look forward to working hand in hand with our provincial partners to continue to improve the lives of so many."

Repairs that are eligible for funding include general improvements, energy-efficiency upgrades or conversions, and modifications to support people with disabilities. These repairs will help improve the quality of social housing for low-income seniors, people with disabilities and families.

Today's announcement was made at Sudbury Finnish Rest Homes Society Inc. located at 233 Fourth Avenue. The project received more than $368,000 for renovations to the property, including kitchen repairs.

The Government of Canada wants to improve the quality of existing social housing to ensure that Canadians on fixed incomes can live with independence and dignity in their communities, close to family and friends. Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $850 million, over two years, for the renovation and retrofit of existing social housing. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada's commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

In 2009, Ontario allocated a combined federal and provincial investment of $704 million for the renovation of social housing, and $540 million for the creation of new affordable housing. The provincial investment is part of the Open Ontario plan, and is creating an estimated 23,000 jobs, while strengthening local economies across the province. Ontario's investment will result in the repair of more than 185,000 social housing units, while creating more than 6,400 new affordable housing units for low-income families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. As well, the province has made available $70 million for the use of renewable energy technologies to improve energy efficiency in social housing as part of its Green Energy Strategy. 

Affordable housing is a key component of Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy. Download a copy of the Government of Ontario's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.ontario.ca/housing.

More information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan can be found at www.actionplan.gc.ca. 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.

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BACKGROUNDER

Renovation and retrofit of existing social housing projects
Municipality	Units	Federal and Provincial Funding
Cache	2	$16,300
Chelmsford	8	$75,000
Coniston	24	$164,663
Dowling	40	$57,456
Field	4	$41,505
Garson	30	$73,107
Gogama	1	$20,965
Hammer	26	$224,873
Kilarney	1	$21,465
Lively	56	$236,193
St. Charles	24	$17,818
Sturgeon Falls	236	$721,459
Sudbury	2,174	$7,557,733
Val Caron	60	$119,200
Warren	22	$100,472
Total	2,708	$9,448,209