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Ontario Region media release
 Previous release Media release index Next release March 25, 2008 There was some good news in today’s provincial budget for social housing. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan confirmed that the Province will move forward with several initiatives announced recently by Premier McGuinty to deal with the capital repair deficit in Ontario’s social housing stock. These include $100 million in funding for municipalities and a loan program of up to $500 million for capital repairs. The Province has also promised $1 million to set up a Social Housing Asset Management Centre. “The government deserves a lot of credit for taking these important first steps to deal with the critical shortfall in funding for capital repairs in co‑ops and non-profits,” says Dale Reagan, Managing Director of CHF Canada’s Ontario Region. “Setting up the Asset Management Centre is a very forward-looking initiative. I think that it will prove to be a valuable addition to the infrastructure that supports co‑op and non-profit housing in Ontario.” A key message in the budget was that the government won’t let a faltering economy stop them from delivering on their promised anti-poverty agenda. The budget includes a number of “early steps” to tackle poverty announced recently by Premier McGuinty, including a student nutrition program and dental care for low-income families. Sadly, for the 123,000 households sitting on social housing waiting lists in Ontario, the first phase of the anti-poverty plan does not include any new funding for affordable housing.“This is very disappointing,” says Amanda Yetman, President of the Ontario Council of CHF Canada. “It’s unbelievable that in a province as rich as ours we find ourselves with no funding program in place – provincial or federal – to provide safe, affordable housing for Ontario citizens who are most in need. Affordable housing has to be the cornerstone of any anti-poverty plan.” The budget did open the door to possible future funding for affordable housing using a share of budget surpluses. Premier McGuinty has promised a new Investing in Ontario Act that will direct a portion of provincial surpluses over $800 million to municipalities for capital projects including social housing which the budget identifies as a key part of Ontario’s infrastructure. Duncan says that the Province is working on plans “to create more affordable housing options for families and individuals across Ontario.” Yetman says that, “this offers us hope that government action to deal with Ontario’s growing affordable housing crisis is delayed, not abandoned.” For years CHF Canada has been calling for a provincial action plan on affordable housing built around a stable, multi-year funding program. “We’re prepared to work with the government on a long-term plan to make affordable housing a core part of the government’s business and of future provincial budgets,” says Yetman. For more information contact: Harvey Cooper, Manager of Government Relations |
