Ministers meeting sets the stage for increased accountability in housing
spending

OTTAWA , Dec. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Today's federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) housing ministers meeting paves the way for better collaboration and consultation with housing groups to safeguard Canada's existing social housing stock for present and future generations, said the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada ).

The FPT meeting in Gatineau, Quebec , the first in four years, offered Canadians hope that housing ministers will agree both to greater accountability and long-term housing need reduction targets for federal spending.

"Progress was made today. Federal Minister Diane Finley's (responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)) presence and leadership was certainly noted and appreciated by Canada's affordable non-profit housing co-ops," said Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director of CHF Canada . "We were encouraged to hear that FPT Ministers were interested in improving how cost-shared federal, provincial and territorial housing programs are delivered. Ministers now have an opportunity to consult with housing groups, including housing co-ops, about how to develop more permanent affordable housing options across Canada ."

CHF Canada welcomed the ministers' agreement to build on recent discussions and continue their collaboration toward helping the most vulnerable Canadians in need of affordable housing.

"Canada's housing co-ops are looking forward to working with governments to build on today's progress. We have called for an accountability framework, agreed to by provincial and territorial governments, setting out well-defined targets to reduce housing need for the thousands of struggling renters, seniors, aboriginal Canadians and recent immigrants now living in 1.5 million unsuitable and unaffordable homes across Canada ," said Gazzard.

CHF Canada is the national voice of the Canadian co-operative housing movement. Its members include nearly 900 non-profit housing co-operatives and other organizations across Canada . More than a quarter of a million Canadians live in housing co-ops, in every province and territory.

For further information: Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director of CHF Canada, [phone] ext. 230, or [phone] (cell), [email protected]; Scott Jackson, Program Manager, National Communications, 1-877-533-2667 ext. 122, [email protected]