City council approves spending $33M on two supportive housing projects
The City of Edmonton has chosen to start a pair of projects that failed to secure federal government housing funding.
City council's executive committee on Wednesday voted to spend $33 million from Edmonton's affordable housing budget for the projects in the Canora and Garneau neighbourhoods.
While another of the city's three proposed projects — a permanent supportive housing development that is under construction in Hollyrood — received both federal and provincial funding, the Canora and Garneau ones did not.
Both have secured funding from the province's Alberta Social Housing Corporation but did not garner money through the third wave of Ottawa's Rapid Housing Initiative.
Executive council heard from administration that if the city doesn't move forward soon on the projects, it risks losing provincial funding.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he believes spending the money now will get them started while he watches for new funding opportunities in the upcoming federal budget.
Sohi told media he's had a "good meeting" with federal housing minister Sean Fraser regarding funding.
"They're interested in providing more funding to the city to build additional supportive housing units, so we will continue those conversations," Sohi said.
Money from three rounds of the federal Rapid Housing Initiative has already helped fund the construction of 600 supportive housing units in Edmonton.
Work has already begun behind the scenes to purchase and prepare the Canora and Garneau sites, at 10111 154 St. NW and 11049 83 Ave. NW respectively, that will include almost 100 units with specialized supports.
Sohi said city council is committed to meeting its housing goals after declaring a housing emergency last year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Toronto eliminated from PWHL playoffs
Toronto has been eliminated from the PWHL playoffs.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.