Conservatives Spend Less than One Per Cent of Social Housing Money

New Democrats, Martin call for national housing plan

OTTAWA -- -- In October 2008, in an unusual government announcement during the fall election, the Conservative government committed to spend $1.9 billion for social housing. More than a year later, they have actually spent less than 1 per cent of the fund.
Another $1.5-billion of social-housing money allotted in February's budget is also only trickling out the door, according to newly released government data.
 
“People across the country are choosing mats and beds in shelters rather than from a stock of affordable housing,” said New Democrat Poverty Critic Tony Martin. "It's time that we started building affordable housing again."
 
In Halifax last weekend, New Democrat leader Jack Layton said the Liberal government in the early 1990s began dismantling Canada's affordable housing policy. As a result, he said, more shelters have had to open to provide the homeless with temporary places to stay.
 
A New Democrat bill that would force the government to come up with a new national plan may be passed as early as this spring with the support of the other opposition parties, he said. The bill would ensure that each year additional affordable housing for seniors, students and people in need of support is built.
 
Last month, Martin wrote HRSD Minister Diane Finley supporting projects from the Italian Housing Corporation and Croatian Housing Association noting “we are in critical need of affordable housing units in our community with no affordable or social housing units in the city developed for approximately 15 years and a vacancy rate of 1.8 per cent.”
 
There are other affordable housing projects in the riding needing funding too.
 
The figures released by Human Resources Minister Diane Finley show the three other funds are also moving slowly.
Only 4.6 per cent of a $1-billion fund to renovate existing social housing units has been spent, while 1.9 per cent of a $400-million fund for low-income seniors' housing is out the door. Only 0.1 per cent of a $75-million construction fund to house people with disabilities has been spent.