Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 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

RCMP helicopter rescues man after truck stuck in snow west of Kelowna

RCMP helicopter rescues man after truck stuck in snow west of Kelowna
A man whose truck got stuck in the snow west of Kelowna, B.C., needed to be rescued by an RCMP helicopter. Rescuers say the man was unharmed but the situation could have ended much worse and they are warning of a growing trend of drivers relying on online maps to navigate forest service roads.

RCMP helicopter rescues man after truck stuck in snow west of Kelowna

Abbotsford businesses being targeted by extortionists

Abbotsford businesses being targeted by extortionists
Police in Abbotsford say businesses in the city are being targeted by extortionists. The Abbotsford Police Department says multiple businesses have received letters seeking protection money to stave off potential violence, but police say the letters have been sent out in a mass mailing to commercial business.

Abbotsford businesses being targeted by extortionists

Police investigating armed robbery in Surrey

Police investigating armed robbery in Surrey
Surrey RCMP is seeking information following an armed robbery that occurred at a Newton business Wednesday morning. On Wednesday, at approximately 11:08 a.m. Surrey RCMP received the report of an armed robbery at a business located in the 8100-block of 128 Street. One person sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital.

Police investigating armed robbery in Surrey

Prabhraj Rai charged with fraud over $5K

Prabhraj Rai charged with fraud over $5K
Surrey R-C-M-P say their financial crimes unit investigated the alleged fraud spanning from 2015 to 2021 after a victim came forward claiming they lost millions of dollars in real estate investment opportunities.  Police say Raj allegedly committed large-scale financial fraud and was arrested and charged with fraud over five-thousand dollars. 

Prabhraj Rai charged with fraud over $5K

Phone left at New Westminster skytrain had pornographic images, man now facing charges

Phone left at New Westminster skytrain had pornographic images, man now facing charges
A 61-year-old man who accidentally left his cellphone at a New Westminster SkyTrain station is now facing child porn charges. A statement from the Transit Police says pornography was found on the phone when it was searched for contact information, so it could be returned.

Phone left at New Westminster skytrain had pornographic images, man now facing charges

Former RCMP official Cameron Jay Ortis found guilty of breaching secrets law

Former RCMP official Cameron Jay Ortis found guilty of breaching secrets law
A jury has found former RCMP intelligence official Cameron Jay Ortis guilty of breaching Canada's secrets law. Jurors declared Ortis guilty of three counts of violating the Security of Information Act and one count of attempting to do so in a verdict delivered on Wednesday.

Former RCMP official Cameron Jay Ortis found guilty of breaching secrets law