Speaking Notes for

Gary Goodyear, Member of Parliament for Cambridge

On behalf of

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

Official Opening for Making Room Community Support for the Homeless (The Bridges)

26 Simcoe Street,
Cambridge, Ontario

May 24, 2006
Time: 11:00 a.m.

Check against delivery

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

I am pleased to join you on behalf of my colleague, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development — and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation — as we mark the official opening of the Making Room Community Support for the Homeless (The Bridges).

The strength of Canada is the strength of our communities. If we want to ensure that our country remains strong, then we must strive to build healthy, liveable communities in every province and territory across the country.

That's why the federal government is providing support for projects like this one. When completed, this project will provide 20 new units of affordable housing for lower income families and individuals in Cambridge.

We are proud to be a partner with the Province of Ontario in this project, through funding of $400,000 under phase one of the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement.

Working together with the National Homelessness Initiative, which proudly contributed $450,000 to The Bridges, the Government of Canada was able to ensure that this project could provide emergency year round shelter to homeless individuals and families in our community, to provide a variety of housing options, and to support people when they needed it.

Today's event marks an important step forward for the people of Cambridge and demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together.

The Government of Canada is working on many fronts to address the housing needs of all Canadians. Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation — our national housing agency for over 60 years — we provide approximately $2 billion a year in housing assistance, primarily in support of some 633,000 lower-income households. For the people of Ontario, this represents a total of about $705.5 million — primarily in support of about 238,000 lower-income households.

This government believes that all Canadians should have a fair chance to own or rent their own home. That is why the 2006 federal Budget provided a one-time strategic investment for the establishment of housing trust funds with provinces and territories to invest in affordable housing.

When it comes to building communities and the housing within them, it takes the efforts of many to achieve success. It takes partnerships at all levels of government, involving all sectors, as well as creative and innovative people with a vision.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in this project, especially the Making Room Community Support for the Homeless. I applaud your efforts and wish you all the best.

Thank you for joining us today.