The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation:
Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to attend an announcement today regarding the expansion of the Choices for Youth Train for Trades program in St. John’s.
Since 2010, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has been a proud partner in this worthwhile program. Train for the Trades supports at-risk youth in our community through access to valuable on-the-job construction training and experience.
This national award-winning program will now be doubling its capacity to train and employ young people through a generous donation of $2.1 million from Hibernia Management and Development Company.
This partnership and support is an excellent example of the good work and important relationships being fostered between government, industry and community groups. This is big business giving back to the community in a big way.
Mr. Speaker, as a result of this new partnership, 20 youth will take part in the 44-week program this year. This will include two weeks of training through the Carpenters Millwright College followed by 42 weeks of on-the-job experience.
Participants will help construct six new Choices for Youth affordable housing units being built for youth with complex needs. This project is made possible with an investment of $750,000 from Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation through the Affordable Housing Program.
This year, participants in the Train for Trades program will help carry out modernization and improvement work on 10 Newfoundland and Labrador Housing rental units. This is part of a pilot project in partnership with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1860.
Mr. Speaker, the Choices for Youth Train for Trades program has been very successful with 80 per cent of participants going on to post-secondary education or employment.
I ask this Honourable House to join me in congratulating Choices for Youth and all their partners on the expansion of this innovative program, and to thank Hibernia Management and Development Company for making a key investment in supporting young people in the province.
I wish all participants, past and future, the best of luck in their future endeavours.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, will speak at a joint announcement to be made by Choices for Youth and Hibernia Management and Development Corporation, tomorrow (Wednesday, March 13).
The event will take place 10:00 a.m. at the Youth Services Centre, Choices for Youth, 12-16 Carter’s Hill Place, St. John’s.
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Media contact:
Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 699-5668
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca
The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador today celebrated the official opening of eight new affordable housing units for seniors and persons with disabilities in Springdale. The expansion of Vista Place is the result of a $240,000 equally cost-shared investment by the Federal and Provincial governments through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement for Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014.
“Our government is proud to have contributed $120,000 in funding for this project,” said the Honourable Peter Penashue, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador and MP for Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “These new units will provide quality, affordable housing for independent seniors and persons with disabilities, and benefit the economic and social well-being of the entire community.”
“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes the importance of building partnerships with the private and non-profit sector to develop more affordable housing options for people of low income,” said the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. “Vista Place is offering comfortable and affordable homes for seniors, and for those who are most in need, and our government is pleased to contribute to this approach to community housing in Springdale.”
“My business partner, Clifford Roberts, and I are very grateful to both the Federal and Provincial Governments, which have provided the opportunity for Vista Place to grow,” said Dave Edison, Partner, Vista Place (2005) Ltd. “With this investment we can continue to meet the housing needs of seniors and persons with disabilities in Springdale and surrounding area.”
The Federal and Provincial governments contributed to the construction of six units while Vista Place (2005) Ltd. funded an additional two units.
A key objective for the Provincial Government is to stimulate the development of affordable rental housing by the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Priority is placed on developing rental housing for persons with disabilities, seniors, and people who require supports to live independently in the community. This work is in keeping with A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations, released by the Provincial Government in August 2009, which outlines a long-term vision for social housing. A copy of the social housing plan is available at SocialHousingPlan-2009Report. 
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in existing social housing. In Newfoundland and Labrador, this represents some 12,250 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.
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-schl.gc.ca. 
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Media contacts:
Ed Moriarity
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 709-699-5668
edmoriarity@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Katherine LeBlanc
Consultant, Communications & Marketing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
902-426-6581
krleblan@cmhc.ca
Marian Ngo
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Dave Edison, President
Vista Place (2005) Ltd.
709-673-3922
daveedison@nf.aibn.com