Governments of Canada and Ontario Celebrate New Affordable Housing in
Orillia, Ontario

ORILLIA, ON, Dec. 17 /CNW/ - Funding of $9.2 million for 77 new affordable housing rental units for seniors, persons with disabilities, and low income households was announced today in Orillia.

Bruce Stanton , Member of Parliament for Simcoe North, 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 the Honourable Aileen Carroll , Ontario Minister of Culture, Minister Responsible for Seniors and Member of Provincial Parliament for Barrie, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson , Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; along with Cal Patterson, Warden of Simcoe County, and Ron Stevens , Mayor of the City of Orillia, made the announcement.

"The Government of Canada is helping make affordable housing available in Ontario and across Canada for those who need it most," said MP Stanton. "Here in Orillia, this initiative will help many people in our community, while creating jobs and stimulating our economy. This investment is possible through Canada's Economic Action Plan, our government's plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. For Ontario, this includes a $1.2 billion joint investment."

"New housing initiatives add significant support to the McGuinty government's Poverty Reduction Strategy," said Minister Carroll. "We will continue to work with our municipal partners to ensure more units are built during the life of this program."

"The County of Simcoe is committed to providing a wide range of affordable housing options for residents in our 16 member municipalities and the cities of Barrie and Orillia," stated County Warden Cal Patterson. "These new affordable housing units will support seniors in Orillia, allowing many to remain in their home community as they age. This project is another outstanding example of the great things that happen when we work in partnership with other levels of government and with our community."

"We are extremely pleased to be awarded another 77 affordable housing units through the federal and provincial governments' funding opportunities," added Mayor Stevens . "As of today, non-profit organizations and private developers in the City of Orillia have completed 92 affordable and accessible housing units. With this new 77-unit project at 85 Barrie Road we will have added a total of 169 units for low income families, seniors and the disabled since 2006."

The Government of Canada wants to ensure that Canadians on fixed incomes can live with independence and dignity and remain in their communities, close to family and friends. Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $400 million , over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in 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 the next five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless.

Today's announcement celebrates the funding for 77 new affordable rental units at 85 Barrie Road in Orillia. The project is sponsored by developer Moe Zadeh of Serenity Residentials Inc.

Ontario is moving quickly to implement this additional funding. 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.

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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    For more information visit: http://www.cmhc.ca
                                www.mah.gov.on.ca.
    

For further information: Media Inquiries: Michelle Bakos, Office of Minister Finley, [phone]; Shawn Griffiths, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [phone]; Adam Grachnik, Office of Minister Watson, [phone]; Cathy Kytayko, County of Simcoe, [phone] ext. 1115