Canada's Economic Action Plan Creates Jobs and Improves Housing on Reserve in British Columbia

SIDNEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Feb. 25, 2011) - The Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), announced today an investment of more than $2.6 million as part of the year two funding through Canada's Economic Action Plan to improve housing conditions for 27 First Nation communities on Vancouver Island.

The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport and Member of Parliament for Saanich – Gulf Islands, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), made the announcement today.

"Year two of Canada's Economic Action Plan demonstrates that our Government remains committed to improving housing conditions for First Nation communities in British Columbia," said Minister Lunn. "Today's investment will provide quality, affordable housing while creating jobs and stimulating the local economy."

Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has committed $400 million over two years to help close to 500 First Nation communities build needed new housing, repair and remediate existing non-profit housing for their members, and complement housing programs offered by CMHC. This investment is also providing an economic stimulus for many First Nations and surrounding areas by creating jobs.

Some $63 million in federal investments through Canada's Economic Action Plan will be made available to First Nations in British Columbia to address immediate housing needs.

Specifically, CMHC will allocate more than $2,660,000 to renovate and retrofit 274 housing units on-reserve on Vancouver Island. A breakdown of this funding can be found in the attached backgrounder.

More information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan, the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, 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.

Backgrounder attached.

INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE ON-RESERVE SOCIAL HOUSING

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting First Nations through targeted investments to build and renovate housing. Today's announcement is the latest in a series of commitments by the federal government to improve housing conditions in First Nations communities.

This commitment is in addition to the federal government's annual investment, through Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), of approximately $277 million for on-reserve housing needs, and INAC's investment of approximately $118 million annually for First Nations on-reserve in the form of shelter allowance payments under the Income Assistance Program.

Under Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has provided $400 million over two years to support on-reserve housing. Of the $400 million committed, $250 million is being delivered through CMHC over two years for the creation of new on-reserve housing ($125 million) and the repair and renovation of existing federally-assisted on-reserve social housing ($125 million). The remaining $150 million is being delivered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) for lot servicing, renovations, new construction of high-density multi-unit dwellings, and renovations to support the conversion of band-owned housing to private ownership.

In 2007, the Government invested $300 million in the First Nations Market Housing Fund, which encourages market-based housing on-reserve.

Funding Breakdown, Vancouver Island First Nation Communities
First Nation	Units	CEAP Retrofit Funding
Ahousaht	11	$126,000
Beecher Bay	7	$77,000
Campbell River	5	$66,736
Cowichan	7	$91,775
Ditidaht	6	$72,391
Ehattesaht	10	$156,600
Gwa'sala	8	$109,428
Halalt	8	$109,837
Homalco First Nation	10	$119,500
Kayuthchektles7eth	7	$109,900
Kwakiutl	11	$109,900
Malahat	6	$87,925
Mamalilikulla-Qwe'Qwa'Sot'Em	2	$31,400
Mowachaht	10	$109,650
Nuchatlaht	6	$76,100
Pauquachin	7	$110,042
Qualicum	3	$43,425
Quatsino	28	$138,680
Snuneymuxw	32	$119,790
Tla-o-qui-aht	14	$134,617
Tlowitsis	10	$25,950
Tsawataineuk	7	$126,300
Tsawout	10	$33,025
Tseshaht	8	$105,500
T'Sou-ke Nation	14	$192,925
Stz'uminus	20	$85,700
Wuikinuxv	7	$98,280
Total	274	$2,668,376