By Dan Laxer
The Suburban
The Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough will be the beneficiary of a $71 million loan from the federal government for housing, but affordable housing activists say it’s not for the kind of housing the borough needs, right now.
Ottawa’s Apartment Construction Loan Program will be investing in Exal NDG, an apartment complex to be built at 7300 Saint Jacques at West Broadway (across from the new RONA+).
Steven Mackinnon, Minister of Labour and Seniors, made the announcement on the site of the future project, along with Notre-Dame-de-Grâce – Westmount MP Anna Gainey, on behalf of Housing Minister Sean Fraser.
Mackinnon said “our government is ensuring that Quebec families have access to a safe, affordable home. Today’s announcement marks another step in our work to end Canada’s housing crisis once and for all.”
“This new housing,” Gainey added, “will benefit middle-class individuals and families while stimulating the local economy.”
Housing advocacy group FRAPRU – Le Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain – took issue with that announcement, stating that “the Trudeau government is still relying too heavily on the private market to solve the housing crisis and, in so doing, is contributing to unaffordability.” FRAPRU says that the government is using public funds “to finance housing that is totally unaffordable for the average tenant.”
The apartment complex is supposed to be ready by next summer, with prices ranging from $1,080 for a studio to $2,390 for a three bedroom. According to the loan program’s own requirements, at least 20 per cent of the apartments have be available at a monthly rate of 30 per cent of the average income of area households. The rents quoted are higher than that, based on the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s own date from last year.
Exal NDG is to be a five-storey complex with 207 units “with high-end finishes,” according to the website. Housing groups say the affordability criteria doesn’t take into account the actual average income for renters — the disparity is a bit higher than 50%. n