Speaking Notes for

Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Shuswap

On behalf of

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development

Opening Ceremony for Pioneer Lodge

1051 6th Avenue NE
Salmon Arm, BC
October 14, 2006
2:00 p.m.

Check against delivery

Good afternoon. Bonjour.

I am pleased to join you on behalf of my colleague, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development — and the Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Today, we are here to celebrate the opening of Pioneer Lodge.

Here in Salmon Arm and right across the country, Canada's New Government is getting things done for Canadians. We're putting more money in their pockets by lowering taxes, helping with choice in child care by giving parents $100 a month for each child under six, and providing municipalities with funding through the gas tax. We've also introduced important new changes to Compassionate Care leave, brought in incentives to help young people get into the trades through apprenticeship grants, provided $1 billion for post-secondary education, and made an additional $1.4 billion commitment to affordable housing.

Our ongoing commitment to affordable housing is helping to provide support for projects like this one. Pioneer Lodge will provide 30 assisted living units for seniors, allowing them to live as independently as possible in their community.

Canada's New government is very proud to be working in close cooperation with the Province of British Columbia to fund this project, through $750,000 under the Canada – BC Affordable Housing Agreement.

In addition, CMHC's mortgage loan insurance to this project means it will benefit from a larger mortgage loan at a lower interest rate than would be possible without insurance. And, because this is an affordable housing project, CMHC has waived the insurance premium that would normally be charged.

Through CMHC, our national housing agency for more than 60 years, our government provides approximately $2 billion a year in housing assistance across the country. This primarily supports some 633,000 lower-income households. For the people of British Columbia, this represents a total of about $240 million annually — in support of about 72,500 lower-income households.

Today's event marks an important step forward for the people of Salmon Arm, and demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together. When it comes to building communities, it takes the efforts of many to achieve success. It takes partnerships at all levels of government. And it also takes creative and innovative people with a vision.

Thank you to all those involved in this project, especially the members of Good Samaritan Canada for their commitment to providing a range of care options where seniors can get the care and attention that their individual circumstances require. I applaud your efforts and wish you all the best.

Thank you for joining us today. Merci.