April 19, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CÔTEAU-DU-LAC, QUEBEC — Mr. Nick Discepola, MP for Vaudreuil–Soulanges, today announced funding of $33,490 for the Cuisine collective Soulanges, on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for Homelessness. The funding will be used to buy a new van and new appliances. This funding was provided by the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), which is part of the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI), and demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to making Canada a country with strong social foundations, as stated in the Speech from the Throne.

“I am pleased that the Government of Canada is giving concrete support to the Cuisine collective Soulanges,” said Mr. Discepola. “This will enable it to continue to help destitute people in our region.”

Since 1998, the staff of the Cuisine collective Soulanges has provided food to all people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the Vaudreuil–Soulanges area. This organization also distributes foodstuffs, which help numerous families in the region to make ends meet.

“The new van will enable us to pick up people who have no means of transportation available to them, to transport food from various sources and to buy the food for the meals that we share,” said Guy Diotte, the director of the Cuisine collective Soulanges. “The appliances will allow the kitchen to be run more efficiently. The funding from the Government of Canada will be of tremendous help to us in fulfilling our mandate.”

In July 2003, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec signed an agreement of cooperation regarding the SCPI and the Regional Homelessness Fund. This agreement respects the jurisdictions, policies and priorities of both governments with regard to homelessness. A joint management committee oversees the coordination of this agreement and is supported in its work by an advisory committee composed of representatives from both levels of government and from community organizations.

The NHI is making a difference by encouraging the development of flexible, community-driven solutions to help alleviate homelessness.

Since the inception of the NHI, the Government of Canada has invested over $80 million in more than 450 projects to reduce homelessness in Quebec.

Since December 1999, communities across Canada have undertaken over 1,800 projects, funded wholly or in part by the NHI. These projects will result in: The addition of approximately 8,000 permanent beds in shelters, and transitional and supportive housing. The construction, renovation and improvement of over 1,000 facilities such as shelters, food banks, soup kitchens and drop-in centres. The transfer of 50 properties, worth $9.2 million and approved under the NHI’s Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative, to establish 214 transitional affordable housing units. In addition to Government of Canada investments, the partnerships have leveraged substantial resources, valued at more than a half billion dollars, for the implementation of homelessness projects in Canada.

For more information on the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Initiative, please visit our Web site at http://www.homelessness.gc.ca/.

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