Speaking notes for

Rob Moore, Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal

On behalf of

The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Grand Opening — Salisbury Lions Senior Citizens Complex

79 Horsman Street
Salisbury, NB
November 7, 2007
2:00 p.m.

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Bonjour. Hello.

It’s a pleasure to be here on behalf of my colleague, the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development — and the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Today, we officially open the Salisbury Lions Senior Citizens Complex. This affordable housing project will provide affordable housing for seniors in Salisbury.

Our government is delivering on our commitment to create affordable housing in New Brunswick and across the country for those who need it the most. The Salisbury Lions Senior Citizens Complex will give seniors the opportunity to stay in their community close to family and friends while receiving the care and support they need.

I’m proud my government has contributed $280,000 to this project under the Canada – New Brunswick Affordable Housing Agreement. This funding will be an investment for the people of Salisbury for years to come. It will allow them to continue to live independently in their community, close to family and friends.

I am pleased to inform you that CMHC mortgage loan insurance facilitated the financing of this project. And, because this is an affordable housing project, funded under a federal-provincial agreement, CMHC has waived the insurance premium that would normally be charged.

And we are doing so much more in this community and throughout Canada. In September, we announced the opening of two buildings by MJP Investments (Beauséjour) Ltd, which now provide 20 units of affordable housing for non elderly singles and persons with disabilities in nearby Shediac.

Our investment in this project is just one part of what our government is doing for Canadians. Minister Solberg and Senator Marjory LeBreton, our Secretary of State of Seniors, recently announced the creation of a National Seniors Council and nearly $14 million in funding to seniors across Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

We are also working to improve the health and well-being of our seniors, including increasing the refundable medical expenses by more than 30 per cent to $1,000 a year, and improving the financial security of seniors by reducing the amount of taxes they owe.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s budget will help seniors by raising the age limit for RPPs and RRSPs from 69 to 71. These measures build upon the tax relief provided under our Tax Fairness Plan. The Government of Canada has increased the age credit amount to benefit low- and middle-income seniors and it allowing pension income splitting for pensioners beginning this year. Together, these actions put $1 billion a year back into the pockets of Canadian seniors, who earned and deserve every penny.

We’ve also introduced important 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 brought in a new child tax credit and a new Working Income Tax Benefit for low-income workers.

In addition, through CMHC, we provide approximately $2 billion a year in housing assistance primarily to support some 630,000 households across the country. For the people of New Brunswick, this represents $58.8 million annually, in support of some 18,650 households.

Today’s event marks an important step forward for the people of Salisbury and demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together. When it comes to building safe and strong communities, it takes the efforts of many to achieve success. It takes partnerships at all levels of government to get real results. We are helping to create stable homes, a place where Canadians can get settled, and then get on with their business of building a better future.

I would like to thank the Salisbury Lions Senior Citizens Complex Inc. Since 1917, Lions Clubs like Salisbury’s have been active in communities all over the world, striving to help those in need. Your civic-mindedness is truly inspiring. We appreciate all you are doing.

I wish you all the best in the future.

Thank you. Merci.