GIRARDVILLE, September 5, 2006 The municipality of Girardville will receive a budget of $250,000 under the "Nord-du-Québec" component of the Affordable Housing Québec program, to help increase the supply of affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income clients. This announcement was made today by the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, MP for the constituency of Jonquière - Alma, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and by Karl Blackburn, MNA for Roberval, on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Regions. "Canada's new Government is pleased to be working with the province to support the housing solutions implemented by the municipality of Girardville, for getting things done is what open federalism is all about," said Minister Blackburn. "The delivery of this program on the territory of the municipality of Girardville will definitely help with the renovation and construction of many housing units, which will improve the quality of life of those households who need it most. In addition, depending on the type of work undertaken, the "Nord-du-Québec" component of the Affordable Housing Québec program should generate substantial investments," added MNA Karl Blackburn. The "Nord-du-Québec" component of the Affordable Housing Québec program provides financial support to participating municipalities located in Northern Quebec that want to address issues specific to this region where there is a greater need to rehabilitate the existing housing stock than to build new residential units. The "Nord-du-Québec" component is a framework program under which a municipality develops and administers its own affordable housing program, in compliance with the guidelines established by the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ). The municipalities may implement a variety of actions to promote the development or preservation of affordable housing on their territories. These actions are grouped into five categories: the major renovation of an owner-occupied housing unit; the major renovation of rental housing units; the demolition or move of a dilapidated, owner-occupied mobile home and the acquisition of a new home or the purchase and major renovation of an existing home; the development of rental housing units intended for seniors; and, lastly, the development of new rental housing units, if there is a shortage of such units in the region. The total budget allocated to the "Nord-du-Québec" component comes to almost $5.6 million. This sum will help improve the housing conditions of households residing between the 49th and 55th parallels, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. Depending on the type of work performed (new construction or major repairs), the SHQ contribution varies between 35% and 45% and the community contribution, between 5% and 15%. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, for its part, will provide 50% of the funding for the work. The community contribution may come, in whole or in part, from a municipality, a profit-oriented or non-profit organization, a private company, a developer or a fund-raising campaign conducted among the citizens of a municipality. The Governments of Canada and Quebec signed two agreements to increase the supply of affordable housing in the province. These agreements provide for a total contribution of $473 million, with $236.5 million from the federal government and an equivalent sum on the part of the Quebec government and the municipalities participating in the Affordable Housing Québec and AccèsLogis Québec programs. Sources: Hélène Bégin Communications Advisor Communications Société d'habitation du Québec 418-643-5033 Sophie Crête Communications and Marketing Advisor Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation 514-496-4025 Information: Jonathan Trudeau Press Assistant Office of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Regions 418-691-2050 514-873-2622
