Mr. Speaker, as noted in the Speech from the Throne, shelter is the foundation upon which healthy communities and individual dignity are built. The government is committed to ensuring that those Canadians who are most in need can access safe and affordable housing.
I would like to inform the House of an initiative that will help communities develop new affordable housing projects. Our national housing agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is inviting community groups and individuals to apply for seed funding.
Introduced in 2003, seed funding helps pay for activities in the early stages of housing project development, including a housing needs analysis and a business plan. Priority will be given to proposals for affordable housing projects, although innovative and community based projects may also be considered.
Interested applicants have until January 10, 2005 to submit an application for funding. Successful applicants will receive a maximum of $20,000 in seed funding. Delivered through CMHC's partnership centre, the seed funding national proposal call for 2004 is expected to result in over 150 housing--