National

Trudeau announces $600 million in loans, funding to jump-start homebuilding, rentals

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Apr, 2024 09:51 AM

The federal Liberal government plans a $600-million package of loans and funding to help make it easier and cheaper to build homes for owners and renters.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making the announcement in Calgary, just the latest in a string of pre-budget announcements aimed at winning over younger voters.

We need more affordable housing right across the country, but affordable rental units are too often lost to the private market. So, we’re going to protect and preserve them, and work with partners to acquire even more.

Here’s how: pic.twitter.com/jM6QR6FV5X
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 5, 2024

Trudeau says $50 million will go toward a homebuilding technology and innovation fund, with another $50 million to modernize and expedite construction.

An additional $500 million worth of low-cost loans will foster projects with "innovative" construction techniques from prefabricated and modular housing manufacturers and other builders.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will table the next federal budget April 16.

In Winnipeg on Thursday, Trudeau announced $1.5 billion to help non-profits acquire more rental units and ensure their affordability.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

2 Surrey crashes land pedestrians in hospital

Police in Surrey say they're investigating two crashes that sent pedestrians to hospital with serious injuries just 90 minutes apart last night. In the first incident, R-C-M-P say a man in his 40s was taken to hospital in critical condition after being hit by a semi-truck whose driver was co-operating with police.

2 Surrey crashes land pedestrians in hospital

National response needed for encampment crisis, evictions must end: federal advocate

Unhoused people have a fundamental right to live in encampments, and that right is violated when authorities tear them down, Canada's housing advocate says. In a piercing report released Tuesday, Marie-Josée Houle says the expansion of homeless encampments across the country is a national human rights crisis that requires immediate action and co-ordination involving all levels of government.

National response needed for encampment crisis, evictions must end: federal advocate

As pharmacare deadline looms, Singh mulls a future without NDP's deal with Liberals

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is mulling what it would mean for his party if the supply-and-confidence deal that ties his party to the Liberals should end prematurely. The NDP signed a political pact with the Liberals in 2022 to support the government on key votes in exchange for progress on shared priorities like pharmacare.

As pharmacare deadline looms, Singh mulls a future without NDP's deal with Liberals

Minister was warned lifting international student work limit could undermine program

Allowing international students to work more than 20 hours a week could distract from their studies and undermine the objective of temporary foreign worker programs, public servants warned the federal government in 2022. The caution came in documents prepared for former immigration minister Sean Fraser as Ottawa looked at waiving the restriction on the number of hours international students could work off-campus — a policy the Liberals eventually implemented.

Minister was warned lifting international student work limit could undermine program

Prince Harry, wife Meghan visit B.C. this week in one-year lead-up to Invictus Games

Prince Harry and Meghan are in B.C. this week for the participating nations camp, where Invictus Games athletes and coaches from 19 countries will convene for lessons in the sports, including the new winter sports added to the 2025 Games of alpine skiing, snowboarding, skeleton, biathlon and wheelchair curling.

Prince Harry, wife Meghan visit B.C. this week in one-year lead-up to Invictus Games

Economic anxiety high, faith in political leaders low in Canada, survey suggests

Canadians are stressed out about the economy and have little faith in politicians or governments to fix big problems, a new survey suggests. The annual CanTrust Index published by Proof Strategies queries Canadians about their level in trust in everything from political leaders and businesses to corporations, the media, bankers and scientists.