Archived News Releases

News Release - Canada and Manitoba

July 10, 2013

Governments of Canada and Manitoba Celebrate New Affordable Housing for Seniors in Brandon



BRANDON, MANITOBA – A new co-op housing development, that will provide quality and accessible accommodation for low-to-moderate income seniors, was officially opened in Brandon today.

Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); Drew Caldwell, MLA for Brandon East, on behalf of the Honourable Kerri Irvin-Ross, Manitoba Minister of Housing and Community Development; and Shari Decter-Hirst, Mayor of Brandon, participated in the grand opening. The project, led by Western Manitoba Seniors Non-Profit Housing Co-operative Ltd., is located at 620 McDiarmid Drive.

“The Government of Canada is helping to make affordable housing available in Manitoba and across Canada for those who need it most,” said Tweed. “These 34 units in Brandon are helping seniors in need access safe and affordable housing, and build a stronger future for themselves. We remain focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course, their personal financial security.”

“High-quality, affordable housing is vitally important so that Manitobans can continue to live in their own communities during their retirement years,” said Caldwell. “I would like to thank Western Manitoba Seniors Non-Profit Housing Co-operative for its hard work in meeting the needs of seniors and families by creating these safe, accessible homes in Brandon.”

“On behalf of City Council and the entire City of Brandon, I am thrilled to see the ribbon cut on this long-awaited housing development,” stated Decter-Hirst. “Safe, affordable, quality housing is such a vital need in our community and through the hard work, dedication and vision of the Western Manitoba Seniors Non-Profit Housing Co-operative, we have moved a step forward today in continuing to fill that need.”

The 34 units will enhance housing quality and accessibility for seniors in Brandon. The building is a four storey and consists of 14 one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom units. The Housing Co-op, developed with the Western Manitoba Seniors Non-Profit Housing Co-operative Ltd., will receive rent supplement assistance from the province to allow six of the units to be rented on a rent-geared-to-income basis.

The project received more than $2 million in funding through the amended Canada-Manitoba Affordable Housing Agreement.

The City of Brandon contributed a total investment of $501,700 to the project in the form of capital funding and land donation. In addition, the city provided the co-op with a tax offsetting grant for 20 years, equal to 50 per cent of the municipal portion of their property taxes.

The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of close to 594,000 households living in existing social housing. In Manitoba, this represents an estimated 39,700 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.

Over the next three years, the Manitoba government will invest $134 million annually to restore and upgrade housing for residents. Manitoba will also build 500 more social housing units and 500 more affordable rental units over the next three years. This is in addition to the 1,500 social housing and 1,500 affordable housing units that will become available by 2014.

Better housing is part of the Manitoba Building and Renewal Plan, which will also help build the province’s critical infrastructure priorities including flood protection, roads, schools and health centres. Information about Manitoba’s three-year plan is available at www.gov.mb.ca/housing/three_yr__plan.

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-schl.gc.ca/.

- 30 -