Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Housing

PRESS RELEASE
PROVINCIAL AND  TERRITORIAL MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR HOUSING
MEETING JUNE  27, 2016
VICTORIA

Provincial  and territorial ministers responsible for housing met in Victoria today to  discuss their vision and priorities for affordable and social housing in Canada.  The provinces and territories discussed how  to work together with the federal government to achieve the best possible  outcomes for Canadians and also the need for long-term, flexible, sustainable  and predictable funding for provinces and territories to address their varied  needs and circumstances.  The meeting was  chaired by Honourable Rich Coleman, British Columbia's Minister Responsible  for Housing and Chair of the Provincial/Territorial Housing Forum. The provincial and  territorial housing ministers will meet tomorrow with the federal minister  responsible for housing, Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos.  The  federal government's focus at tomorrow's meeting will be on its intention to  develop a National Housing Strategy.

The  meeting is of great importance as the federal government has signaled that they  will be actively engaged, notably financially, as a partner with the provinces  and territories in addressing the challenges and finding solutions to providing  safe and affordable housing for all Canadians.

Over  the past years, provinces and territories have made significant provincial and  territorial housing investments to respond to their unique housing needs.  Provincial and territorial ministers responsible for housing welcome the federal  government's commitment to make new and additional investments in housing. Ministers  expect productive discussions with the federal government in order to develop a  more comprehensive federal, provincial and territorial collaboration on current  and new housing initiatives that include more flexibility, sustainability and  predictability of federal funding.

Achieving success requires renewed intergovernmental collaboration  and respect for the roles and responsibilities of each province and territory. The  provinces and territories are seeking a long-term, meaningful partnership with  the federal government.

"The federal government  and all provinces and territories want to ensure every Canadian has a safe,  affordable place they can call home," said the Honourable Rich Coleman, British  Columbia's Minister Responsible for Housing and meeting co-chair with the  federal government tomorrow.  "We want to thank the federal government for its willingness to commit  significant funds for affordable housing across the country and we look forward  to its continued investments. We are confident that by working together we  can create long-term solutions that will benefit all Canadians."

Version #10, June 27, 2016