McGuinty Government Supports Off-Reserve Communities In GTA
November 26, 2008
NEWS
A new housing initiative will provide affordable housing for Aboriginal peoples in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with the support of the Ontario government.
Thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding signed today by the McGuinty government and the Miziwe Biik Development Corporation, the Development Corporation will administer a $20-million housing program for up to 320 low-income Aboriginal households living off-reserve. Housing support will be provided through new affordable rental units, homeownership loans and home repairs.
Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Brad Duguid, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs; George Smitherman, Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and MPP for Toronto Centre; and Nancy Martin, President of Miziwe Biik Development Corporation, participated in the signing ceremony.
The GTA program is part of the government’s $80-million commitment to provide housing assistance for off-reserve Aboriginal families. Aboriginal organizations recently completed community consultations on off-reserve housing supports for the rest of the province and provided the Ontario government with recommendations.
QUOTES
“Our government and Aboriginal communities, working in partnership, are launching a remarkable housing program to help off-reserve families in the GTA,” said Minister Watson.
“This program is another example of this government’s commitment to demonstrating leadership and to investing in initiatives that will make a real difference in Aboriginal people’s lives,” said Minister Duguid.
“This partnership is so important to the many members of the Aboriginal community who live off-reserve and in urban centres like Toronto Centre,” said Minister Smitherman. “It is key that they have better access to affordable housing to help them establish themselves.”
“We hope this will be the start of many partnerships with the Province to help put our Aboriginal citizens on a level economic playing field with the rest of Ontarians,” said Miziwe Biik Development Corporation President Nancy Martin.
QUICK FACTS
- In addition to the new Aboriginal housing initiative, Ontario provides funding for more than 2,600 units of affordable, off-reserve housing.
- The Miziwe Biik Development Corporation’s mission is the economic advancement of the GTA Aboriginal community, which includes helping them access affordable housing and business development.
LEARN MORE
Find out more about provincial investments in Ontario Aboriginal communities.
Learn more about Miziwe Biik and the GTA Aboriginal housing partnership.
Adam Grachnik
Minister’s Office
416-585-6492
ontario.ca/mah-news
