SAINT-NÉRÉE, September 22, 2006 Independent seniors now have more affordable housing options thanks to the construction of the 12 rooms of the Résidence Confort des aînés, on Principale Street, in Saint-Nérée. This announcement was made today by Steven Blaney, MP for Lévis Bellechasse, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and by Dominique Vien, MNA for Bellechasse, on behalf of Nathalie Normandeau, Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Regions. In addition to Steven Blaney and Dominique Vien, Clément Vallières, Mayor of Saint-Nérée, Johanne Fournier and Paul Gagnon, owners of the Résidence Confort des Aînés, residents and community partners attended the event. "The new units being opened today will provide seniors with a quality environment, allowing them to remain in their community, close to their families and friends," said Steven Blaney. "We are very pleased to work in partnership with the Government of Quebec, the municipality of Saint-Nérée and community sector representatives to provide more citizens with quality housing in their community." "The Government of Quebec's financial support for the Résidence Confort des Aînés confirms our will to develop sustainable resources to meet the needs of independent seniors. I am therefore very proud of the excellent outcome that we achieved by associating ourselves with the Government of Canada and the municipality of Saint-Nérée," said Dominique Vien. The construction work, which required investments of $281,000, was completed thanks to the participation of public and private partners. The government financial contributions for the development of the 12 rooms total $72,000 and were made under the affordable housing agreement signed between Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ). CMHC is providing $36,000 in financial assistance for this housing project, while the SHQ is contributing a sum of $25,200. The municipality of Saint-Nérée, for its part, is providing an amount of $10,800. The development of this project is part of the Government of Quebec's initiative to produce 20,000 social, community and private housing units for low- and moderate-income households, by 2009. This initiative is notably supported by federal funds made available under affordable housing agreements. 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: Patricia Lord 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 to the Minister of Municipal Affairsand the Regions 418-691-2050 514-873-2622
