February 5, 2009

OTTAWA – The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation recently announced the expansion of their Affordability and Choice Today (ACT) Initiative. 22 New grants totaling $99,700 were announced.
“CMHC is pleased to support the many municipalities, home builders and non-profit housing providers working to develop local housing solutions that will benefit the economy and revitalize communities across the country,” said Douglas Stewart, vice-president, Policy and Planning, CMHC.
The program, which has been in existence since 1990, provides grants of up to $5,000 to teams of municipalities and private or non-profit home builders who promote the improvement of planning and building regulations in their communities to make housing more affordable and responsive to local needs. ACT is funded by the CMHC, but delivered and administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with the participation of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association and the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association.
“ACT grants have helped home builders to work with municipalities to streamline approvals and eliminate hurdles in planning and building regulations in order to improve housing affordability and choice,” said CHBA President Gary Friend.