Speaking Notes for

Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s

On behalf of

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

Opening Event for the Shoreham Village Seniors’ Complex

3777 North Street
Chester, Nova Scotia
October 27, 2006
10:30 a.m.

Check against delivery

Good morning. Bonjour.

I am pleased to be here today, 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 for Shoreham Village Seniors’ Complex.

Here in Chester, 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. Once complete, this project will provide 16 units of affordable housing for seniors.

Canada’s New Government is very proud to be working in close cooperation with the Province of Nova Scotia to fund this project, through federal funding of $400,000 under the Canada – Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Agreement.

Through CMHC, our national housing agency for more than 60 years, the federal 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 Nova Scotia, this represents a total of about $75.5 million annually — in support of about 22,850 lower-income households.

Today's event marks an important step forward for the people of Chester 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 everyone involved in this project, especially the Shoreham Village Senior Citizens Association. Your ongoing efforts are helping to ensure that our seniors will have safe and affordable places to call home. I applaud your efforts.

Thank you for joining us today. Merci.