The Community of La Broquerie celebrates new affordable housing with the opening of Le Chalet de La Broquerie: Left to right: Armand Leclerc, President of Le Chalet de La Broquerie Inc, Kerri Irvin-Ross, Minister of Manitoba Housing and Community Development, Vic Toews, Federal Minister of Public Safety and Claude Lussier, Mayor of La Broquerie

Manitoba’s Minister of Local Government Ron Lemieux and Federal Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews announce Funding at ground breaking for seniors housing project in St. Anne, Manitoba.

June 20, 2011

GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND MANITOBA ANNOUNCE FUNDING FOR SENIORS PROJECT

STE. ANNE—The Governments of Canada and Manitoba today announced $7.8 million in joint funding for Villa Youville, a new affordable housing project. The 24 units will enhance housing quality and accessibility for seniors in Ste. Anne. Celebrations took place at a groundbreaking ceremony.
The project involves the demolition of an existing obsolete personal care home and its replacement with twenty-four units of affordable, supportive housing. Twelve of the new units will be rented on a rent-geared-to-income basis, and the remaining at Median Market Rents for the area. In addition to working with existing infrastructure and service supports, this project introduces supportive housing into the community of Ste. Anne.  The project will use geothermal heating and cooling and includes a chapel, and expanded kitchen and dining room funded through community fundraising.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety and Regional Minister for Manitoba, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the Honourable Ron Lemieux, Manitoba Minister of Local Government on behalf of the Honourable Kerri Irvin-Ross, Manitoba Minister of Housing and Community Development.
“Our government’s Economic Action Plan is delivering for seniors here in Ste. Anne and in communities throughout the country,” said Minister Toews. “At Villa Youville, the construction of these units is creating jobs, a great way to get our local economy moving. More importantly, it means that lower-income seniors will continue to have access to quality affordable housing that meets their needs.”
“Our goal is to bring affordable, accessible housing to seniors in our province,” said Minister Lemieux. “The construction of Villa Youville means more seniors can continue to live independently, remain in and contribute to the community they call home. Today’s announcement will help alleviate the growing demand for seniors housing by providing seniors in the Ste. Anne area with more affordable housing options.”

The federal and provincial governments are contributing equally to an overall investment of $176 million for the creation of affordable housing under the amended Canada-Manitoba Affordable Housing Program Agreement. Federal funding for the units in this announcement was made available through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the government’s plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs during the global recession. Provincial funding for these units was provided by Manitoba Housing through HOMEWorks!, the Province of Manitoba’s long-term housing strategy and investment plan.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides $400 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for the construction of new and the renovation of existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
Today’s announcement builds on the work of the Age-Friendly Manitoba Initiative to support seniors in leading active, socially engaged, independent lives that contribute to healthy aging. The goal of the initiative is to make Manitoba the most age-friendly province in Canada by working with the communities and the federal government to enhance the programs and services that benefit the well-being of all seniors.
Through Manitoba Housing’s Long-Term Housing Strategy, HOMEWorks!, the Province of Manitoba, with the financial assistance of the Government of Canada, is contributing $378 million over two years for housing initiatives in Winnipeg and across the province.  HOMEWorks! supports ALL Aboard, Manitoba’s Poverty Reduction strategy by increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing for low-income Manitobans. In 2009, the province committed to creating 1,500 new affordable housing units by 2014.  As of March 31, 2011, the province had committed funding for 707 new affordable housing units.  More information about HOMEWorks! is available at www.gov.mb.ca/housing.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless. As reported in Budget 2011:  A Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth, more than 14,000 housing projects are completed or underway across the country, helping families and individuals, including seniors and persons with disabilities, find suitable and affordable housing while putting Canadians back to work.

More information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government’s plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the global recession, can be found at http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/. 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.

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Winnipeg's Politician demands answer from Minister Vic Toews

Three Major Blows to Winnipeg’s Medical Research Community Demands Explanation from Toews, says Duguid
MEDIA RELEASE - March 19, 2010
WINNIPEG - Manitoba’s Senior Conservative Minister Vic Toews must explain why his government has dealt three major blows to Winnipeg’s medical research community in the last three months alone, says Terry Duguid, Liberal Candidate for Winnipeg South.
In an open letter, Duguid asks Toews to explain three decisions taken by the Conservative Government that together paint a picture of a research community under siege:
- The Government’s decision to cancel an $88-million vaccine facility for which the Winnipeg-based International Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID) was the leading contender. (Duguid is the former CEO of ICID)
- Winnipeg’s loss of the headquarters of the Public Health Agency of Canada, following the permanent departure of Chief Public Health Officer David Butler-Jones for Ottawa.

- There is no funding in the federal budget for a promised $300-million expansion to the National Microbiology Lab on Arlington.
“Given the serious impact on Winnipeg in terms of both job opportunities and our international reputation, I am writing this open letter because I believe that you, as Senior Minister for Manitoba, owe the public some answers,” Duguid writes.
“Under your leadership, Manitoba appears to play an ever-diminishing role in Public Health. I hope you and your colleagues in the Conservative caucus will explain just what you are doing to defend Manitoba’s interests, and Winnipeg’s role as a major centre for medical research.”
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Contact:



Terry Duguid,

Liberal Candidate for Winnipeg South

204-228-0560

tduguid@mts.net



The open letter to Vic Toews is attached.





*****





March 19, 2010



Dear Minister Toews,



In the past two months, the Federal Government has made three decisions with major implications on Winnipeg’s public health and infectious diseases community.



Given the serious impact on Winnipeg in terms of both job opportunities and our international reputation, I am writing this open letter because I believe that you, as Senior Minister for Manitoba, owe the public some answers.



1. CHVI: Winnipeg’s Loss of an $88-million Vaccine Facility



As you know, the Government of Canada cancelled the vaccine manufacturing facility portion of the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI), an $88-million project to which funding had already been committed. The facility would have been self-sustaining, and Winnipeg was an outstanding candidate, not least because we have the greatest concentration of HIV/AIDS researchers in Canada.



I note that while you have been willing to comment publicly on other issues, from the funding of youth centres to the legal troubles of your former caucus colleague Rahim Jaffer, you have yet to explain the major inconsistencies in your government’s handling of the CHVI file, or even whether you objected to its cancellation.



My first questions are: What did you do to fight for Winnipeg’s bid for CHVI? Do you agree with the Health Minister’s contention that no bidder was qualified? What are you doing to ensure that HIV/AIDS researchers in Winnipeg receive their share of funds from CHVI?



2. Winnipeg Losing its Position as Headquarters for the Public Health Agency of Canada



Second, I note with concern the fact that Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, has moved to Ottawa.



When it was created, PHAC was envisioned along the lines of the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. It was located far from the national capital so that science, and not politics, could hold sway in public health decisions. Dr. Butler-Jones’ departure effectively eliminates Winnipeg as even a nominal headquarters for PHAC, with all decisions being made in Ottawa.



What are you doing to preserve Winnipeg’s role as a headquarters for the PHAC, and secure Winnipeg’s role for the future of the Agency?



3. No Funding for the Promised Expansion to the National Microbiology Lab



With the exception of a loading dock, there has been no new laboratory space added to the National Microbiology Lab for years. An article in The Winnipeg Free Press suggested that a major expansion to the lab - a project known as “L5L” - may be in the works, with a price tag of between $300-$500-million. However, the latest Federal Budget makes no mention of L5L, and your Government has made it clear that after the remainder of stimulus funds are spent, deficit reduction will be the priority.

Given the fiscal reality, is this project going to go ahead? Is the Government of Canada planning to allocate any funding to this project - even for feasibility studies?
In Conclusion
Since the Conservative government was first elected in 2006, you have been Senior Minister for Manitoba. In the last two months alone, Winnipeg has been denied a bid for an $88-million vaccine facility and appears to have lost the headquarters of the Public Health Agency Canada. A lab expansion has no funding in the federal budget - all in the midst of the biggest stimulus spending package in Canadian history.

Under your leadership, Manitoba appears to play an ever-diminishing role in Public Health. I sincerely hope this is not the case for the long term.
I hope you and your colleagues in the Conservative caucus will explain just what you are doing to defend Manitoba’s interests, and Winnipeg’s role as a major centre for medical research.
Yours,
Terry Duguid