Canada’s Economic Action Plan Creates Jobs and Improves Housing for Blood Tribe

December 22, 2009

Blood Tribe First Nation, AB — Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, announced today an investment of more than $1.2 million as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to improve housing conditions for the Blood Tribe First Nation community. He made the announcement, along with members of the Blood Tribe First Nation community, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians (INAC).

“Our Government’s Economic Action Plan is delivering support for improvements in housing conditions for members who live in First Nation communities in Alberta and we are also stimulating the local economy by creating jobs,” said MP Menzies.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has committed $400 million over the next two years to help First Nation communities build needed new housing, repair and remediate existing non-profit housing for their members, and complement housing programs offered by CMHC and INAC.  This investment will also provide an economic stimulus for many First Nations and surrounding areas by creating jobs.

Through CMHC and INAC, some $50 million in federal investments will be made available to First Nations in Alberta to address immediate housing needs.  CMHC is contributing $695,000 to retrofit 42 social housing units on-reserve for the Blood Tribe First Nation while INAC is contributing $592,000 for other renovations and lot servicing.

More information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan can be found at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.  To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.