Minister "optimistic" TBDSSAB to get cut housing funding

Local Journalism Initiative
·2 min read

THUNDER BAY — Talks between the province and Parliament Hill regarding funding cuts to affordable housing continue, with the provincial housing minister remaining optimistic that the city's social services board will eventually get the money it was originally promised.

During an event in the city last week, the minister for municipal affairs and housing, Paul Calandra, said he continues to be frustrated with the federal government.

"We have a very big disagreement with the federal government. What our community partners have done in terms of renovating, restoring and bringing old, outdated units back online so that people can live in them has been extraordinary. We've hit 400 percent of the target."

Recently, the TBDSSAB said it had originally budgeted $2.2 million for capital repairs for 442 housing units, $1.2 million for operational funding to maintain over 270 legacy units first built under the Urban Native Housing Program, and $800,000 for new construction in the district.

According to the CAO, Bill Bradica, as many as 115 existing units could be lost this year if another funding source can't be found.

The cuts came at the 11th hour after the yearly budgets had been laid out for the social services board.

Calandra believes there's a misunderstanding between Ottawa and Queen's Park about the province's role in building new affordable housing.

"I think there's just a misunderstanding with the federal government that the province of Ontario doesn't directly build homes. We do it through our partners, the 444 municipalities across the province of Ontario.

"The service boards are the ones who deliver the new housing. I have been unwilling to order our service boards to do what it is that the federal government wants us to do."

Ottawa has taken issue with current and legacy housing being updated and repaired rather than building new housing in Ontario under the Affordable Housing Fund.

Katie Nicholls, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com

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