January 20, 2009
Federal, Provincial, Municipal Governments and Housing Providers Officially Break Ground on Affordable Housing in Markham.
Pamela Roth, Board President, Markham Interchurch Committee for Affordable Housing; Lois Brown, Member of Parliament for Newmarket - Aurora; The Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and MPP for Markham - Unionville, Gordon Landon, Markham City Councillor; The Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Bill Fisch, York Regional Chair and CEO; Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of the Town of Markham
Link to video - Markham News Conference (3:14 min)
MARKHAM – Low-income families, seniors and people with special needs will soon benefit from the development of 120 new affordable housing units in the Town of Markham. More than $8.4 million committed under the Canada–Ontario Affordable Housing Program will help fund a new affordable housing project about to begin construction.
The announcement was made by Lois Brown, MP for Newmarket-Aurora, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada; the Honourable Michael Chan, MPP for Markham – Unionville and Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration; and the Honourable Jim Watson, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Also participating in today’s announcement were York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch and Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of the Town of Markham.
“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in Ontario and across Canada for those who need it most,” said MP Brown. “The creation of these units here in Markham will provide low-income families, seniors and individuals with special needs access to safe, affordable and quality housing, helping them to build a stronger future.”
“Access to safe, affordable housing is vitally important to the economic and social well-being of Ontario’s communities,” said Minister Chan. “This investment will make a significant difference in the lives of those residents of Markham living on lower incomes.”
Today’s announcement was made at the future site of East Markham Non-Profit Homes, at 25 Deverill Court, in Markham. The $25-million project, which includes $8.4 million from the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program, is sponsored by the Markham Interchurch Committee for Affordable Housing (MICAH).
Federal and provincial allocations to the project are to be complemented by more than $3.4 million in municipal financial incentives.
“York Region is committed to working with all levels of government and community organizations to meet the growing and diverse housing needs of all residents,” said York Regional Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. “This housing project is a concrete example of what happens when we work together.”
“This building has been designed with diversity in mind,” said Town of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “We are pleased that this building will be one of the first multi-residential facilities to feature a number of environmental initiatives that will help reduce its carbon footprint.”
The Canada–Ontario Affordable Housing Program comprises a commitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest at least $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for 20,000 households in Ontario.
Media Inquiries:
Julie Vaux
Office of the Honourable Diane Finley
819-994-2482
Jennifer Mitchell-Emmerson
Regional Municipality of York
905-830-4444 ext. 4016
Adam Grachnik
Office of Minister Watson
416-585-6492
For more information visit:
http://www.cmhc.ca
www.ontario.ca/housing
www.york.ca
ontario.ca/mah-news
