Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Fraser announces $176 million in housing deals with more than 60 rural communities

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Feb, 2024 10:42 AM
  • Fraser announces $176 million in housing deals with more than 60 rural communities

The federal government will roll out more than 60 housing agreements with small and rural communities across the country over the next few weeks, Housing Minister Sean Fraser announced Tuesday.

Fraser said in a news conference that the deals are worth $176 million and will help build more than 50,000 housing units over the next decade.

"What we've seen over the course of the past few years is more people have chosen to move to small towns," Fraser said.

"We're seeing the cost of rent has gone up dramatically as vacancy rates get lower. We see that the cost of purchasing a home is far greater today than it was even just a few years ago." 

Fraser said rural communities are being given more flexibility when it comes to their commitments in the agreements, in part because they have different capacities than larger municipalities.

Ottawa has been signing agreements directly with municipalities through its housing accelerator fund, which offers money in exchange for changes to bylaws and regulations that would support more homebuilding.

Municipalities were invited to apply for the federal fund with a plan on how they intend to ramp up construction in their communities. 

The Liberal government has pitched the fund as a key pillar of its economic plan as it faces political pressure to address the country's housing crisis.

Fraser said on top of the deals for smaller communities, the federal government has reached 36 agreements to date that will help construct more than 500,000 housing units over the next decade.

That includes a deal with the city of Ottawa worth $176 million announced on Monday. 

Out of the $4-billion housing accelerator fund, about $640 million remains available to municipalities that have not yet signed agreements, said a spokesman for Fraser.

Tuesday's announcement came during Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's weekly news conference on the Liberals' economic agenda. 

The weekly update was brought in during the fall as part of the Liberals' push to sell its own policies to Canadians at a time when support for the party is tanking. 

The news conferences typically include minor announcements and offer an opportunity for ministers to spotlight previously announced measures.

On Tuesday, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault highlighted that the federal government has increased student loan forgiveness for rural nurses and doctors by 50 per cent to increase health-care services in these communities. 

The increase means family doctors and nurses in rural communities are eligible for loan forgiveness of up to $60,000 and $30,000, respectively. 

The change took effect last year. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Calls intensify for Canada to bring extended family of Canadians safely out of Gaza

Calls intensify for Canada to bring extended family of Canadians safely out of Gaza
Canada has negotiated with Israel and Egypt to get approximately 600 people through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as of the last update from Global Affairs. The only people who qualify are Canadians, Canadian permanent residents and people who meet the government's strict definition of an eligible family member, though there have been exceptions.

Calls intensify for Canada to bring extended family of Canadians safely out of Gaza

Targeted shooting early Monday morning in White Rock

Targeted shooting early Monday morning in White Rock
Mounties in White Rock confirm shots were fired in the city earlier today. No injuries were reported, but police say they suspect the shooting was targeted. Police are investigating a motive.

Targeted shooting early Monday morning in White Rock

Canada's grocery retail sector one of the most competitive on Earth: Sobeys CEO

Canada's grocery retail sector one of the most competitive on Earth: Sobeys CEO
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced this fall that Canada's major grocers — Loblaw, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco — had shared plans to tackle rising prices that included discounts, price freezes and price-matching campaigns. However, questions swirled about what exactly the grocers promised, given the details of the plans were not being shared publicly.

Canada's grocery retail sector one of the most competitive on Earth: Sobeys CEO

Vancouver unveils Canada's first electric fire truck in its pledge to cut emissions

Vancouver unveils Canada's first electric fire truck in its pledge to cut emissions
Vancouver’s fire department is showing off what the city says is Canada’s first electric fire engine.  The Austrian-built pumper truck is part of the city’s commitment to reduce fleet emissions by moving to electric vehicles when they need to be replaced. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says the fire engine represents an important milestone and the city is proud to be the first in Canada to lead the way with its firefighting fleet. 

Vancouver unveils Canada's first electric fire truck in its pledge to cut emissions

CBC says it is cutting 600 jobs, some programming

CBC says it is cutting 600 jobs, some programming
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and Radio-Canada will eliminate about 600 jobs and an additional 200 vacancies will go unfilled as it contends with $125 million in budget pressures. The public broadcaster says CBC and Radio-Canada will each cut about 250 jobs, with the balance of the layoffs coming from its corporate divisions like technology and infrastructure.

CBC says it is cutting 600 jobs, some programming

Canada proposes new methane emissions rules for oil-and-gas sector

Canada proposes new methane emissions rules for oil-and-gas sector
The controlled release or burning of methane from oil and gas production sites will be almost entirely barred by 2030 under proposed regulations outlined Monday by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. The proposed regulations seek to implement a new target to cut methane leaks and releases from the oil and gas industry by at least 75 per cent over 2012 levels by 2030.   

Canada proposes new methane emissions rules for oil-and-gas sector