Rob speaking on behalf of the Government of Canada


New 60 Unit Housing Project Opens in Saint John

September 5, 2007 -- Saint John -- Rob Moore, Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Government of Canada along with the Honourable Mary Schryer, New Brunswick Minister of State for Housing, participated at the opening of a new 60-unit housing project in Saint John today that received funding under the Canada-New Brunswick Affordable Housing Agreement, the project created 30 housing units for non-elderly singles and seniors.

"Canada's Government is committed to making quality, affordable housing available in New Brunswick and across Canada for those who need it most," said MP Moore. "The creation of these units will provide low-income individuals and seniors in Saint John with safe, quality housing at an affordable cost which will help them to build a better and stronger future."

The project involved the construction of a 60-unit building by private developer Fern-Co Building Concept Inc. These housing units for non-elderly singles and seniors are located on Technology Drive in Saint John. Under the Canada-New Brunswick Affordable Housing Agreement, the $3.7 million project received $750,000 in funding from the Government of Canada, as well as $1.1 million in long-term rent supplements from the Province of New Brunswick for 30 of the 60 units.

The Phase I and II of the Canada-New Brunswick Affordable Housing Agreement involved investments of over $45 million to create and sustain up to 700 units of rental housing for low-to-moderate income households in New Brunswick over the last three years.

Recently announced, the Phase III of the Agreement will see the investment of another $40 million to create at least 754 new housing units in New Brunswick over the next two years. Available under the Federal Housing Trust Fund, $17 million will be allocated to project promoters as forgivable loans to offset construction costs. The province will provide $23 million in long-term rent supplements to ensure that 580 of the 754 new housing units will be kept affordable.