News Release

TORONTO (GNB) – Social Development Minister Madeleine Dubé joined her provincial and territorial colleagues in Toronto on June 25 to discuss the need for long-term, sustainable and affordable housing as well as social housing.

"Affordable housing is important to the people of New Brunswick and to our government," said Dubé. "I was pleased to meet with my national colleagues to discuss how we can work together with the federal government to ensure the long-term sustainability of affordable housing in Canada."

Discussions focused on sharing information and building common ground with respect to affordable and social housing issues. It was also an opportunity to discuss engagement with stakeholders and plans for a future meeting with the federal minister responsible for housing.

"The challenges of providing affordable housing is an issue not only here in New Brunswick, but also across the country," said Dubé. "It is important that my colleagues and I continue a dialogue with the federal government and stakeholders to ensure there is adequate funding available for the provinces and territories to help those in need of housing."

The ministers agreed that the complement of social and affordable housing in Canada is among the most important social infrastructure at the community level. They said that significant decreases in federal social housing funding will increase challenges to meet the housing needs of Canadians.

“We are encouraged by the federal government’s recent proposal to extend funding for new affordable housing,” said Robert C. McLeod, minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and chair of the 2013 meeting of provincial and territorial ministers responsible for housing. “But, together, we also need to protect the homes of the more than 600,000 families in social housing.”

The ministers noted that:

●    Safe, adequate and affordable housing is a basic need of Canadians, including persons with disabilities. The ability to secure such housing is a determinant for most economic and social challenges.

●    Housing is critically important to the economy. Housing starts represent a leading economic indicator because housing creates jobs, both directly and indirectly. Affordable housing is a key component, especially when starts fall as they are poised to do. In the three years from 2010-12, combined provincial, territorial and federal spending added more than $3 billion per year to the economy and created or sustained 35,000 jobs.

●    The aging population is exerting increasing pressure on affordable and appropriate housing for seniors and limiting their ability to remain in their homes.

●    Poverty, which includes a large group of people whose housing needs are not met, costs Canada's health-care system $7.6 billion annually.

●    A recent Mental Health Commission of Canada study found that increasing the supply of affordable housing will reduce pressure on health care, emergency services and the justice system. Every $1 spent on housing reduces spending in other shelter, health and justice services by $1.54.

●    Children who live in adequate housing perform better in school than those who live in inadequate housing. Children in stable housing are four times less likely to drop out of school than those in less stable housing.

"We recognize the importance of affordable and social housing, and we believe that all levels of government need to work together to meet diverse regional needs and priorities,” said McLeod. “My colleagues and I invite Diane Finley, federal minister responsible for housing, to a meeting in Yellowknife, N.W.T., to work together to address the housing needs of Canadians.”