Governments Of Canada, Manitoba And Winnipeg Commit To 25 More Affordable Housing Units For New Canadians At Centre Village Housing
Winnipeg, October 14, 2009 – The Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg are making a joint investment to create new affordable housing for new Canadians.
The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament for Provencher, 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), the Honourable Gord Mackintosh, Minister of Family Services and Housing, and Mike Pagtakhan, City of Winnipeg Councillor for the Point Douglas Ward, made the announcement today in Winnipeg.
“The Government of Canada is committed to helping new Canadians in Winnipeg and across Canada access quality, affordable housing,” said Minister Toews. “Through this investment, Centre Village will be able to offer refugees and new immigrants more rental housing options and an opportunity to start a new chapter in their lives.”
All three levels of government are supporting the construction of a new $3.7-million, 25-unit apartment complex located in downtown Winnipeg. Construction of Centre Village Housing is underway and the building will be ready for tenants in the summer of 2010.
“Manitoba has a long history of welcoming and supporting new Canadians and there’s nothing more important than having a safe, affordable place to live,” said Minister Mackintosh. “Today’s announcement builds on other recent commitments and demonstrates that when we work together with the community we can really make a difference.”
Today’s announcement includes more than $1.85 million in funding through the Canada‑Manitoba Affordable Housing Program, Manitoba Housing’s HOMEWorks program and the City of Winnipeg.
Representing Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz, Councillor Mike Pagtakhan said, “Winnipeg is, above all, a city where people genuinely care about their neighbourhoods, and each other. The city is proud to be a partner and investor in Centre Village, because the housing opportunities it will provide to residents of the Central Park area are in our community’s best tradition of neighbours helping neighbours.”
“CentreVenture Development Corporation is pleased to see Centre Village housing become a reality. We are working with our community-based partners, Knox Centre, to increase the variety of housing options in the Central Park neighbourhood,” said Ross McGowan, CEO of Centre Venture Development Corporation. “As the City of Winnipeg’s downtown development agency, we appreciate the value that strong and diverse neighborhoods contribute to our downtown.”
In Winnipeg, these investments are being delivered through the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI), a partnership between the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg. The partners work together to deliver funding provided through each level of government for affordable housing to address homelessness and to assist in the revitalization of Winnipeg’s older neighbourhoods by providing rehabilitation and repair loans.
These investments are part of the Government of Canada’s $1.9-billion commitment for housing and homelessness for low-income Canadians. As part of this investment, the Affordable Housing Program, the renovation programs for low-income households and Homelessness Partnering Strategy were extended. This investment is part of the provincial and federal government’s $327 million two-year investment plan and falls under HOMEWorks!, Manitoba’s long-term housing strategy. Under this initiative, there are eight priority areas including affordable housing options for new Canadians.
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