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Viewpoint
Time for a National Affordable Housing Program!
by: Libby Davies, M.P., NDP Housing Critic
Dear friends,
The time is NOW with the current minority government to push for a real National Affordable Housing Program that would include a true commitment to social housing, re-investment of CMHC profits, guarantee housing rights for all Canadians and be accountable.
I am working hard with groups and individuals from across the country to ensure that Federal Housing Minister Joe Fontana hears the call for action. Sign on below to the list of demands and email me your support.
I have included for you excerpts from a recent letter I wrote to the Minister of Housing about a number of housing issues.
Yours Sincerely,
Libby
Libby Davies MP
Vancouver East
October 14, 2004
The Honourable Joe Fontana
Minister of Labour and Housing
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Dear Minister,
I was most pleased to meet with you on October 8, to discuss housing issues and concerns and congratulate you on your new appointment.
I briefly wanted to reiterate the issues I raised:
A stronger financial commitment from the federal government in the next budget for a National Housing Strategy.
A greater emphasis on delivery of not-for-profit social housing targets, not simply broadly defined "affordable" housing. This would help ensure that housing needs are addressed for those in core need. There also needs to be much greater accountability from provinces with the allocation of federal funds to prevent diversion or stockpiling.
Continue productive ongoing discussions with the City of Vancouver about the Woodwards project. The City has taken very important steps to make this project a reality. I believe the province has approved 100 social housing units as part of the development. I am urge the federal government to designate federal funds into this very significant development, to ensure a further 100 units are allocated for social housing.
The need to reverse the trend of diminishing subsidies from CMHC on section 95.1 co-ops. We need to ensure that co-ops remain as mixed income buildings, accessible to low-income households.
In addition we discussed the issue of the reinvestment of CMHC profits, as you are aware, currently profits generated by the CMHC are folded into general revenues. I believe strongly that these funds should be reinvested into funding much needed social housing initiatives.
In closing, I would like to reiterate a request made in an earlier letter dated August 27. I urge you to direct CHMC to release the Annual Statement of Expenditures and Annual Performance Reports, as required under the bilateral housing deals. This would allow for a clear assessment of how affective the Affordable Housing Framework Agreement has been and let it be known how much remains uncommitted of the $1 billion promised.
Sincerely,
Libby Davies, MP (Vancouver-East)
NDP Critic for Housing and Homelessness
Sign on to the following demands for Federal Housing Minister Joe Fontana. Email me back with your support, please include your name and contact information.
Email to daviel@parl.gc.ca
I support a National Affordable Housing Program
that would include the following:
-Increased Federal funds for social housing
-Re-investment of CHMC profits into social housing
-Accountability
-Housing Rights
-Other ____________________________________________
The time is NOW with the current minority government to push for a real National Affordable Housing Program that would include a true commitment to social housing, re-investment of CMHC profits, guarantee housing rights for all Canadians and be accountable.
I am working hard with groups and individuals from across the country to ensure that Federal Housing Minister Joe Fontana hears the call for action. Sign on below to the list of demands and email me your support.
I have included for you excerpts from a recent letter I wrote to the Minister of Housing about a number of housing issues.
Yours Sincerely,
Libby
Libby Davies MP
Vancouver East
October 14, 2004
The Honourable Joe Fontana
Minister of Labour and Housing
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Dear Minister,
I was most pleased to meet with you on October 8, to discuss housing issues and concerns and congratulate you on your new appointment.
I briefly wanted to reiterate the issues I raised:
A stronger financial commitment from the federal government in the next budget for a National Housing Strategy.
A greater emphasis on delivery of not-for-profit social housing targets, not simply broadly defined "affordable" housing. This would help ensure that housing needs are addressed for those in core need. There also needs to be much greater accountability from provinces with the allocation of federal funds to prevent diversion or stockpiling.
Continue productive ongoing discussions with the City of Vancouver about the Woodwards project. The City has taken very important steps to make this project a reality. I believe the province has approved 100 social housing units as part of the development. I am urge the federal government to designate federal funds into this very significant development, to ensure a further 100 units are allocated for social housing.
The need to reverse the trend of diminishing subsidies from CMHC on section 95.1 co-ops. We need to ensure that co-ops remain as mixed income buildings, accessible to low-income households.
In addition we discussed the issue of the reinvestment of CMHC profits, as you are aware, currently profits generated by the CMHC are folded into general revenues. I believe strongly that these funds should be reinvested into funding much needed social housing initiatives.
In closing, I would like to reiterate a request made in an earlier letter dated August 27. I urge you to direct CHMC to release the Annual Statement of Expenditures and Annual Performance Reports, as required under the bilateral housing deals. This would allow for a clear assessment of how affective the Affordable Housing Framework Agreement has been and let it be known how much remains uncommitted of the $1 billion promised.
Sincerely,
Libby Davies, MP (Vancouver-East)
NDP Critic for Housing and Homelessness
Sign on to the following demands for Federal Housing Minister Joe Fontana. Email me back with your support, please include your name and contact information.
Email to daviel@parl.gc.ca
I support a National Affordable Housing Program
that would include the following:
-Increased Federal funds for social housing
-Re-investment of CHMC profits into social housing
-Accountability
-Housing Rights
-Other ____________________________________________
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