CORNWALL, ON -  The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario announced today that a  notional allocation of more than $4.8 million to the City of Cornwall, who is the social housing Service Manager for the City and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, to repair and retrofit existing local social housing units.

The funding was made available as a result of a $1.2 billion joint investment under the amended Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement, which includes funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan and by the Government of Ontario. The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to this overall investment.

Guy Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, and Jim Brownell, Member of Provincial Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, made the announcement today at one of the housing sites that will benefit from this funding.

“This joint announcement is a true win-win for our local community,” said Lauzon. “I am anxious to see even more construction-related jobs created in our community and to see the upgrades to social housing projects in both Cornwall and the United Counties of SD&G.”

“I am proud to see a collaborative effort from our governments to ensure the people of this region have safe and reliable places to live,” said MPP Brownell. “Not only do these retrofits benefit affordable housing, they will also provide jobs to the community and stimulate our economy”

"The City of Cornwall, as Service Manager for the City and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry appreciates this stimulus funding for our community; it will create jobs for the local economy, and improve conditions for many of our Social Housing residents,” said Cornwall City Councillor Dennis Carr.

Ontario is moving quickly to invest a total of $704 million to repair eligible social housing across the province. In an effort to get shovels in the ground quickly, projects must be committed by the end of the fiscal years 2010 and 2011. 

The funding will help improve the quality of life for residents living in social housing communities. Funding will be used to renovate and make energy-saving upgrades to existing social housing as well as to   undertake accessibility modifications for the benefit of seniors and persons with disabilities.  It will also create jobs and strengthen local economies.  To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.mah.gov.on.ca.

Last fall, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless.  Canada's Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

Last month, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, announced investments of more than $70 million to fund 36 construction-ready projects throughout the province under the amended Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan .  For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, call 1-800-O Canada or visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.