Great. Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee.
I'm very pleased to be here on behalf of Canada Mortgage and Housing to discuss federal housing programs and activities in the north. As Canada's national housing agency, a core part of CMHC's public policy mandate is to support affordable housing for low-income Canadians and first nations in all parts of the country, including the north.
We deliver this mandate through a number of programs. For example, through CMHC the government currently invests about $1.7 billion annually in support of almost 625,000 households living in existing social housing right across the country. Also through CMHC, the federal government provides funding for the construction of new social housing under the affordable housing initiative and for the renovation of existing homes for low-income Canadians through a suite of renovation programs.
In September 2008 the federal government announced funding of more than $1.9 billion over five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. As part of this investment, both the affordable housing initiative and CMHC's suite of renovation programs were renewed until March 31, 2011.
This spending supports housing such as the nine-unit seniors project built in Haines Junction in the Yukon with almost $1.8 million in federal funding through the affordable housing initiative. The project was built with input from the seniors living in the community and includes additional common space for group activities.
All of the provinces and territories cost-share and deliver the affordable housing initiative, and most cost-share and deliver the renovation programs. In addition, households in the north have benefited from the $300 million northern housing trust announced by the Government of Canada in September 2006 to respond to the need of affordable housing in the territories. This initiative has further added to the housing stock in the north.
CMHC was also instrumental in putting into operation the innovative $300 million first nations market housing fund. This fund is designed to give eligible first nation members who are living on reserve access to private market lending for home ownership similar to those living off reserve, while respecting the communal nature of land ownership on reserve.
As the committee is also aware, CMHC's been given a major role in implementing Canada's economic action plan, which includes more than $2 billion in funding for two years to build new and repair existing social housing. Of this amount, $200 million has been earmarked specifically to support the renovation and construction of housing in the three territories. This funding has been made available to the territories through mandated affordable housing agreements, although the territories are not required in this case to cost-match the federal funding.
This funding is being used, for example, to build a new children's receiving home in Whitehorse, an eight-bedroom facility that will be completed this spring. As a result of this project, children and youth under the care of Family and Children's Services in Whitehorse will soon have a quiet and safe place to live while they're in transition.
Canada's economic action plan also includes an investment of $1 billion over two years for renovations and energy retrofits of existing social housing. Most of this funding, about $850 million, is being delivered and cost-shared again by provinces and territories through amendments to existing agreements. The remaining $150 million is being delivered by CMHC to renovate and retrofit existing social housing that we directly administer.
Also included in the action plan are investments of $400 million to build new affordable housing for low-income seniors and another $75 million for new housing for people with disabilities. Again, these investments are being delivered by provinces and territories under existing agreements.
In total, close to 14% of the money to be delivered by provinces and territories under the action plan initiatives will be invested in the north. This includes the $200 million for northern housing. An additional $400 million over two years is being invested under Canada's economic action plan, specifically in housing on reserve. Projects are already under way in over 400 first nation communities as a result of this investment. CMHC is responsible for delivering about $250 million of this amount.
It is understood that there are limited construction periods in the north and remote areas, as well as a challenge associated with getting materials on site in a timely and cost-effective manner. Accordingly, when the action plan initiatives were launched this last spring, CMHC indicated it would work with each of the territories to find alternatives to the normal program requirements to help them address this particular challenge. Many of the projects in Nunavut, for example, will be using prefabricated components to permit very timely construction as well as to take advantage of some of the very latest in energy efficiency technologies.
In addition to these social housing investments in the action plan, CMHC is also administering the municipal infrastructure lending program, which is providing up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure. Last September, for example, the City of Whitehorse was approved for a low-cost loan of more than $1 million for a project to replace underground and roadway infrastructure. This project will also service new lots that are being developed by the city and will reduce the risk of flooding, improve the efficiency of the sewers, and provide some safer walking access to pedestrians.
So whether we're talking about the existing social housing stock, the affordable housing initiative, CMHC's suite of renovation and on-reserve programs, or the action plan, these investments in social housing are creating jobs and helping to ensure Canadians have safe, affordable, and suitable housing that meets their needs.
Thank you again for the opportunity to be here today, and hopefully I'll be able to answer any questions that you might have.