Canadian government announces $1.2B for energy efficient, affordable housing program

Initiative will provide opportunities for eligible housing providers to upgrade homes to reduce operating costs

Yorkregion.com
May 29, 2023
Melissa Wallace

Ahmed Hussen, minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion of Canada, has announced an investment of $1.2 billion in low-interest, repayable loans over the next four years to retrofit and modernize multi-unit residential buildings, making them energy-efficient and affordable to operate.

Through the Canada Greener Affordable Housing program, eligible affordable housing providers can apply to make necessary improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, beginning June 1 from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website, www.cmhc.ca/CGAH.

Affordable housing providers are those that serve lower to moderate-income renters, and include Housing York, non-profit organizations, rental co-operatives and Indigenous governments and organizations.

The funding will extend the lifespan of aging residential buildings and ultimately reduce future long-term operating costs.

“When we talk about deep energy retrofits, we mean retrofits that will reduce energy consumption by over 70 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent,” said Hussen. “For affordable housing residents, these investments mean better indoor air quality, increased comfort and more durable housing for decades to come.”

The program, he said, also builds upon the government's previous investments in repairing and revitalizing affordable housing units. “As of December 2022, we've committed to repairing over 110,000 affordable housing units across Canada. Over 85 per cent of which have been completed or are currently in progress.”

Joined by Mayor David West and Majid Jowhari, MP for Richmond Hill, Hassan made the announcement outside Maplewood Place in Richmond Hill, which offers 80 apartments for seniors through Housing York.

Jowhari said that the program brings Canada closer to achieving its goal of getting closer to net zero emissions by 2050, recognizing that buildings are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Canada Greener Affordable Housing program will give support to the people providing these homes and better lives for the people who live in these homes,” he said. “People like those who live here in Maplewood Place, this building and the ones like it nearby, such as Evergreen Terrace, Dunlop Pines and Rose Town are examples of the sort of buildings that would benefit from the program.”