A potential wave of new regulation and higher taxes may be scaring many businesses from hiring, prolonging any rebound in employment, say business groups and economists.

The prospect of increased federal and state regulation and taxes has been particularly disruptive to the hiring plans of small- and medium-sized businesses, which have historically generated about two-thirds of the nation’s jobs.

“I don’t really see the private sector hiring much in the next few months,” says Brian Bethune, an economist at Global Insight. “For the small-business sector there is just too much uncertainty about what happens beyond 2010.”

Not only is the Obama administration seeking to push through major overhauls of energy and health care policy, it is also expected to impose dozens of new workplace rules and raise income taxes.

As Washington and Wall Street grow increasingly restless about the unusually slow pace of job creation and the risk of a so-called jobless recovery, key business groups have begun to bang the drum more loudly.

In reporting that its small business optimism index fell for the second straight month in December, the National Federation of Independent Business Tuesday said members’ No. 2 reason for not expanding payrolls was the prospect of government policy initiatives.

Twelve percent said it was not a good time to expand because of the political environment. Over the next three months, 15 percent said they plan to reduce employment, while eight percent plan to create new jobs.

“We’re hearing it more and more from our membership,” says Bill Rys, the NFIB’s tax counsel. “At the federal level, there’s uncertainty about tax rates, health care costs, energy costs. You also have what’s going on at the state and local levels, with new fees and taxes. They’re reluctant to jump back in.”

Rys says the effect has been more pronounced in the past few months, perhaps mirroring the legislative progress of the massive health care reform bill, the highly-publicized Copenhagen climate change conference and new EPA rules on carbon emissions, as well as the approach of 2010, when the near decade-long Bush administration tax cuts are expected to expire.

The NFIB has some 350,000 members with an average size of eight to ten employees.

Much like the severity of the recession, the degree of potential government change is a historic first for many business owners.

“When they went into business this isn’t something they considered,” says Rys.

Posted by Tanya Hutchens

This is what people should remember President Bush for.

On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against al-Qaida terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

These carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime.

We are joined in this operation by our staunch friend, Great Britain. Other close friends, including Canada, Australia, Germany and France, have pledged forces as the operation unfolds. More than 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and across Asia have granted air transit or landing rights. Many more have shared intelligence. We are supported by the collective will of the world.

More than two weeks ago, I gave Taliban leaders a series of clear and specific demands: Close terrorist training camps. Hand over leaders of the al-Qaida network, and return all foreign nationals, including American citizens unjustly detained in your country.

None of these demands were met. And now, the Taliban will pay a price.

By destroying camps and disrupting communications, we will make it more difficult for the terror network to train new recruits and coordinate their evil plans.

Initially, the terrorists may burrow deeper into caves and other entrenched hiding places. Our military action is also designed to clear the way for sustained, comprehensive and relentless operations to drive them out and bring them to justice.

At the same time, the oppressed people of Afghanistan will know the generosity of America and our allies. As we strike military targets, we will also drop food, medicine and supplies to the starving and suffering men and women and children of Afghanistan.

The United States of America is a friend to the Afghan people, and we are the friends of almost a billion worldwide who practice the Islamic faith.

The United States of America is an enemy of those who aid terrorists and of the barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name.

This military action is a part of our campaign against terrorism, another front in a war that has already been joined through diplomacy, intelligence, the freezing of financial assets and the arrests of known terrorists by law enforcement agents in 38 countries.

Given the nature and reach of our enemies, we will win this conflict by the patient accumulation of successes, by meeting a series of challenges with determination and will and purpose.

Today we focus on Afghanistan, but the battle is broader. Every nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground. If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers themselves. And they will take that lonely path at their own peril.

I’m speaking to you today from the Treaty Room of the White House, a place where American presidents have worked for peace.

We’re a peaceful nation. Yet, as we have learned, so suddenly and so tragically, there can be no peace in a world of sudden terror. In the face of today’s new threat, the only way to pursue peace is to pursue those who threaten it.

We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it.

By Tanya Hutchens

It is time now for us to come to a realization that our country is made up of many diverse backgrounds and different religions. We are ready now for a separation between church and state.

The American Jewish Congress is a national organization committed to the vigorous enforcement of the First Amendment provision requiring separation of church and state. The First Amendment provides “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This provision — often called the establishment clause — forbids the government from performing or aiding in the performance of a religious function.

Our appearance at this hearing today arises from our concern that Proclamation 60 (both alone and together with Board Rule 5) abrogates the establishment clause in three fundamental ways. The first constitutional deficiency lies in the Proclamation’s glaring omission of any reference to the Darwinian theory of evolution. The second constitutional deficiency lies in the Board Rule’s requirement that evolution be singled out for a special negative treatment not required in connection with the teaching of any other scientific theory. The third constitutional deficiency arises from the fact that the proposed textbook standards allow for the teaching of scientific creationism. Despite attempts to describe scientific creationism as scientific theory, it is our position that scientific creationism is a religious theory and that, therefore, the First Amendment’s establishment clause prohibits its being taught as science in public school classes.

It seems apparent that, in establishing the proposed textbook standards, the intent of the State Board of Education has been to avoid conflict with a particular religious doctrine and to allow for the inclusion of religious theory in the science curriculum. The United States Supreme Court has made clear that the approach employed by Proclamation 60 is unconstitutional. In 1968, in a case titled Epperson vs Arkansas, an Arkansas biology teacher asked the Supreme Court to declare void a state statute which prohibited the teaching of evolution and which prohibited the selection, adoption or use of textbooks teaching that doctrine. The Supreme Court held that the statute was unconstitutional. In its opinion the Supreme Court stated:

“The First Amendment’s prohibition is absolute. It forbids alike the preference of a religious doctrine or the prohibition of a theory which is deemed antagonistic to a particular dogma.”

Under the standards so clearly articulated by the Supreme Court, Proclamation 60 and Board Rule 5, as presently written, fail to satisfy the constitutional requirement of separation of church and state. In order to comply with the applicable constitutional provisions, the proclamation and board rule should be revised in three ways. First, evolution should be clearly included in the science curriculum. Second, evolution should be taught as are all scientific theories and should not be singled out for special negative comment. Finally, the proposed textbook standards should make clear that scientific creationism is not to be taught as scientific theory. Rather, because there is no constitutional objection to teaching about religion, public school teachers should simply tell their students, when evolution is taught, that there are certain religious groups whose members do not accept the Darwinian theory and advise them to consult with their parents or religious advisers for further guidance on the subject.

The American Jewish Congress believes that this approach is not only fully consistent with the Constitution but is also an effective means by which to resolve objections to the teaching of evolution.

Should the Board of Education fail to take the steps necessary to make the Proclamation constitutional, then the result could lead to textbooks which do not meet constitutional standards. And that mistake would be a costly one to the taxpayers.

Testimony in behalf of the American Jewish Congress by spokes person Nina Cortell before the Texas State Board of Education, responding to Proclamation 60, setting forth specific content rules for biology and science textbooks to be adopted in 1984.

Vancouver – The death on Thursday of Chief Provincial Court Judge Hugh Stansfield is a truly sad passing of a much-loved man dedicated to promoting public access to justice, said Law Society of BC President Gordon Turriff, QC.

“Chief Judge Stansfield was passionate about making his court accessible and he was very good about getting people to share his passion,” said Turriff. “This is a very big loss for British Columbia.”

Stansfield continued to work until his death despite his illness and had been scheduled to meet with the Law Society’s access to justice committee on Thursday. He was a man who invited people to call him by his first name, Turriff said. “He was known among his judicial colleagues as ‘Hugh the Good’ and he was loved by everyone.”

Tim McGee, the law society’s chief executive officer, said Stansfield was dedicated to educating the public about the legal system and was the main speaker at the Law Society’s most recent Media and the Courts workshop in Victoria.

“He was the kind of man who would also take the time to talk to law society staff about the courts and the law,” said McGee, adding he was well regarded by the media. Turriff and McGee extended the Law Society’s condolences to Stansfield’s wife Jo-Ann and sons Colin, David, Patrick and Matthew.

A service will be held in the Great Hall at Robson Square at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2009.

The Law Society of BC was incorporated in 1884 and is the governing body of the legal profession in BC. Under the provisions of the Legal Profession Act, the Law Society is responsible for the licensing, professional conduct and discipline of the more than 11,000 lawyers in BC.

New Home Market Adjusting

Image by dimitridf via Flickr

New home construction activity in Hamilton this year will decline by 29 per cent to 2,500 starts before trending back up six per cent in 2010. A slowing economy and more choice in the resale market will dampen construction. Increases in residential construction in 2010 will also be tempered by the transition to the new sales tax on housing.
Tanya Hutchens says, although starts are expected to be down for all home types, single- detached starts especially will put a damper on total starts. Less than half of the new home starts through to 2010 will be single-detached homes.
Townhouse and condominium apartment starts will continue trending upward, especially since the condominium lifestyle is becoming more popular among all household types. A recently constructed, high-end condominium apartment building in Hamilton Mountain is one step toward fulfilling the lifestyle demands of some households, including the downsizing baby boomer generation.
By sub-market, approximately half of the starts will be in Burlington, with the remainder sparsely distributed across the rest of the CMA. Fewer starts in the new home market indicate that builders and buyers alike are hesitant to make a move in an uncertain economy.
Builders continue to focus on completing and selling current inventory while holding off on future projects. Starts for the year to-date are down 31 per cent while projects under construction are up by the same proportion, suggesting a shift in resources from new starts to ongoing projects. More than a third of the projects under construction are of condominium townhouses and apartments in Burlington In Brantford, single-detached home prices fell three and a half per cent to $282,000 for the first quarter of 2009.
Year to date, total starts are on par with last year’s level, and single-detached home starts have nearly tripled in the City of Brantford. However, this trend will likely taper off throughout this year due to the high number of unsold new homes. There were 116 unsold units at the end of the first quarter of 2009, all of which were single-detached homes and townhouses.
Considering the current economic conditions, some buyers in Brantford may be more inclined to look for a home in the relatively less expensive resale market. An increase in the supply of unabsorbed homes will depress the average price this year and builders may put off starting new projects until the completed units are sold. 360 new home starts are forecast for 2009 and 380 starts for 2010.
The New Housing Price Index - an index which captures the changes over time in builders’ selling prices of new homes of constant quality - started to plateau last year. More recently, home prices have started to fall in several sub-markets across the CMA, though the rate of decrease has been less than in the resale market.
Prices continued to rise in the more expensive home markets of Ancaster and Burlington, where half of the homes were absorbed. This indicates that there are still buyers who are looking for upscale homes, while taking advantage of the low mortgage rate. Should economic conditions stabilize, buying in expensive submarkets could be brought forward in advance of the introduction of the harmonized sales tax.

Real estate investing involves the purchase, ownership, management, rental and/or sale of real estate for profit. Improvement of realty property as part of a real estate investment strategy is generally considered to be a sub-specialty of real estate investing called real estate development. Real estate is an asset form with limited liquidity relative to other investments, it is also capital intensive (although capital may be gained through mortgage leverage) and is highly cash flow dependent. If these factors are not well understood and managed by the investor, real estate becomes a risky investment. The primary cause of investment failure for real estate is that the investor goes into negative cash flow for a period of time that is not sustainable, often forcing them to resell the property at a loss or go into insolvency.

Sources and Acquisition of Investment Property

Real estate markets in most countries are not as organized or efficient as markets for other, more liquid investment instruments. Individual properties are unique to themselves and not directly interchangeable, which presents a major challenge to an investor seeking to evaluate prices and investment opportunities. For this reason, locating properties in which to invest can involve substantial work and competition among investors to purchase individual properties may be highly variable depending on knowledge of availability. Information asymmetries are commonplace in real estate markets. This increases transactional risk, but also provides many opportunities for investors to obtain properties at bargain prices. Real estate investors typically use a variety of appraisal techniques to determine the value of properties prior to purchase.

Typical sources of investment properties include:

Market listings (through a Multiple Listing Service or Commercial Information Exchange)
Real estate agents
Wholesalers (such as bank real estate owned departments and public agencies)
Public auction (foreclosure sales, estate sales, etc.)
Private sales
Once an investment property has been located, and preliminary due diligence (investigation and verification of the condition and status of the property) completed, the investor will have to negotiate a sale price and sale terms with the seller, then execute a contract for sale. Most investors employ real estate agents and real estate attorneys to assist with the acquisition process, as it can be quite complex and improperly executed transactions can be very costly. During the acquisition of a property, an investor will typically make a formal offer to buy including payment of “earnest money” to the seller at the start of negotiation to reserve the investor’s rights to complete the transaction if price and terms can be satisfactorily negotiated. This earnest money may or may not be refundable, and is considered to be a signal of the seriousness of the investor to purchase. The terms of the offer will also usually include a number of contingencies which allow the investor time to complete due diligence and obtain financing among other requirements prior to final purchase. Within the contingency period, the investor usually has the right to rescind the offer with no penalty and obtain a refund of earnest money deposits. Once contingencies have expired, rescinding the offer will usually require forfeit of earnest money deposits and may involve other penalties as well.

Sources of Investment Capital and Leverage

Real estate assets are typically very expensive in comparison to other widely-available investment instruments (such as stocks or bonds). Only rarely will real estate investors pay the entire amount of the purchase price of a property in cash. Usually, a large portion of the purchase price will be financed using some sort of financial instrument or debt, such as a mortgage loan collateralized by the property itself. The amount of the purchase price financed by debt is referred to as leverage. The amount financed by the investor’s own capital, through cash or other asset transfers, is referred to as equity. The ratio of leverage to total appraised value (often referred to as “LTV”, or loan to value for a conventional mortgage) is one mathematical measure of the risk an investor is taking by using leverage to finance the purchase of a property. Investors usually seek to decrease their equity requirements and increase their leverage, so that their return on investment (ROI) is maximized. Lenders and other financial institutions usually have minimum equity requirements for real estate investments they are being asked to finance, typically on the order of 20% of appraised value. Investors seeking low equity requirements may explore alternate financing arrangements as part of the purchase of a property (for instance, seller financing, seller subordination, private equity sources, etc.)

Some real estate investment organizations, such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) and some pension funds, have large enough capital reserves and investment strategies to allow 100% equity in the properties they purchase. This minimizes the risk which comes from leverage, but also limits potential ROI.

By leveraging the purchase of an investment property, the required periodic payments to service the debt create an ongoing (and sometimes large) negative cash flow beginning from the time of purchase. This is sometimes referred to as the carry cost or “carry” of the investment. To be successful, real estate investors must manage their cash flows to create enough positive income from the property to at least offset the carry costs.

Sources and Management of Cash Flows

A typical investment property generates cash flows to an investor in four general ways:

net operating income (NOI)
tax shelter offsets
equity build-up
capital appreciation
Net operating income, or NOI, is the sum of all positive cash flows from rents and other sources of ordinary income generated by a property, minus the sum of ongoing expenses, such as maintenance, utilities, fees, taxes, debt service payments, and other items of that nature. The ratio of NOI to the asset purchase price, expressed as a percentage, is called the capitalization rate, and is a common measure of the performance of an investment property.

Tax shelter offsets occur in one of three ways: depreciation (which may sometimes be accelerated), tax credits, and carryover losses which reduce tax liability charged against income from other sources. Some tax shelter benefits can be transferable, depending on the laws governing tax liability in the jurisdiction where the property is located. These can be sold to others for a cash return or other benefit.

Equity build-up is the increase in the investor’s equity ratio as the portion of debt service payments devoted to principal accrue over time. Equity build-up counts as a positive cash flow from the asset where the debt service payment is made out of income from the property, rather than from independent income sources.

Capital appreciation is the increase in market value of the asset over time, realized as a cash flow when the property is sold. Capital appreciation can be very unpredictable unless it is part of a development and improvement strategy. Purchase of a property for which the majority of the projected cash flows are expected from capital appreciation (prices going up) rather than other sources is considered speculation rather than investment. Brought to you by Tanya Hutchens. Enjoy!

The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board today celebrated the start of construction for 20 new affordable rental units for low-income senior citizens in two projects in the Township of East Ferris. The projects received $400,000 in funding through the Canada – Ontario Affordable Housing Program.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; and George Jupp, Chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board, made the announcement today.

“The Government of Canada is committed to making affordable housing available in Ontario and across Canada for those who need it most,” said Minister Finley. “The creation of these new rental units here in East Ferris will provide seniors access to suitable, affordable housing that meets their specific needs.”

“There is a great need for affordable housing in our region,” said MPP Smith. “I am delighted that senior citizens in the Township of East Ferris will now have access to quality, affordable housing, while remaining close to their families and friends in the community.”

The $3.2 million Seniors Villa of East Ferris includes the 10-unit Corbeil Project and the 10-unit Astorville Project, providing affordable housing for low-income senior citizens.

The projects will receive annual affordability payments of $360,000 provided by the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board.  Funding for the projects is complemented by municipal development fee waivers.

“The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board is pleased to support the development of housing for seniors in East Ferris,” said Chair Jupp. “It is a Board priority to see that the housing needs of rural citizens are addressed.” Reviewed by Tanya Hutchens.

The Native Addictions Services Society in Calgary acquired a new property, consolidated a number of formerly scattered services under one roof and expanded from 20 to 36 beds. This effort provides temporary housing with support services geared towards the needs of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples struggling with substance abuse issues. Staff assists residents in securing permanent accommodation to help them regain stability in their lives.

Although the Center, says Tanya Hutchens, offers its services to all people with addictions, 90% of its clients are of aboriginal descent. Confronted with expanding need, in 1999 the Center applied for and received an interest-free Proposal Development Fund loan from CMHC. This funding was a key catalyst in the planning of the new center.
The Centre’s total cost for the new building was $5,000,000. It received $2,000,000 from HRDC via the Urban Aboriginal Strategy and the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI). Several other organizations provided support:

• The Calgary Homeless Foundation contributed $720,000
• The Calgary Community Lottery Board provided $550,000
• The Community Facility Enhancement Program donated $250,000
• The Calgary Foundation added $89,000
• PetroCanada and Pan Canadian Energy Corporation each gave $75,000

An anonymous donor topped off the impressive list of supporters with $555,000. CMHC was prepared to insure a loan for as much as $2,500,000 but since so much of the capital funding was raised, the final loan amount was substantially less than that. The Center also sold its former property (built in 1912 and called the Sunrise Residence Society) for $360,000.

The Center’s new facility (also called “SUNRISE”) offers a holistic approach to addictions, including such traditional Aboriginal rituals as smudging, sweat lodges and pipe ceremonies. In addition, it includes a ceremonial room, for which there was no space at the old building.

Clients generally stay at the centre for about six weeks. Because of need, the program was lengthened in 2005 from four to six weeks. This can be followed by a long-term residential program of three months, if the client so chooses, which can then be augmented by a nine-month out-patient peer-support group. During the clients’ stay in residence, the staff assists in trying to find them permanent accommodation so that they can be eligible for social assistance and other government-funded services. Permanent accommodation can also be the beginning of stability as the clients attempt to leave their former life of addiction and homelessness. The new centre opened its doors in September, 2002.

A new concept in housing–pocket housing–is providing affordable homes for people with low incomes and low social and work skills in Winnipeg. ND Lea, an employee-owned engineering, planning and project management firm joined forces with S.A.M. Properties Inc., a non-profit developer, to create a made-in-Winnipeg solution to affordable housing needs in the Spence and Centennial neighbourhoods.

The City of Winnipeg classifies the neighbourhoods as two of Winnipeg’s highest-needs communities.These inner-city neighbourhoods have a high proportion of single-person households, residents living in rental accommodations and households with incomes under $20,000.
An inventory of vacant lots showed that these neighbourhoods had several vacant and under-used residential properties. S.A.M. Properties studied the feasibility of developing some of these vacant lots with an affordable and innovative alternative to the substandard living conditions of inner-city rooming houses.

The Affordable Housing Solution

The developer secured an interest-free CMHC Proposal Development Funding (PDF) loan to study the feasibility of creating affordable housing on the vacant and underutilized properties. The developer and architects recommended building small apartment blocks–coined Pocket Housing–on the narrow residential lots. The Spence Neighbourhood Association and the Centennial Residents group played supportive roles in developing the plans for the Pocket Housing. The City of Winnipeg endorsed the idea and sold four lots to the developer for $1.

Each of the four, two-storey Pocket Housing buildings has eight self-contained suites. Each of the 32 Pocket Suites has an independent entrance, a private washroom and a kitchenette outfitted with pots and pans. All units are barrier- free and have a single bed, a built-in table and a chair.

Some of the ground floor units are fully accessible by wheelchair, this is great, says Tanya Hutchens. Most of the suites are about 19.5 m2 (210 sq. ft.): the wheelchair-accessible units are slightly larger. Monthly rent is $350. The small size of the units helped reduce construction costs. Each of the four buildings features energy-efficient design, which helps reduce operating costs. The Pocket Housing is in a central location, allowing residents to get to grocery stores and laundromats on foot. The developer is also the property manager for the buildings and provides residents with regular home visits for support.

According to the design team, the name “Pocket Housing” reflects the concept of the houses slipping into older neighbourhoods and into narrow, infill lots, like a hand slipping into a pocket.

CMHC and the Government of Manitoba contributed $980,000 to the project, through the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI). The City of Winnipeg contributed $51,000 through the donation of the vacant lots (based on the assessed value of the property and associated demolition costs). More than $1 million in funding came from the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI).

To keep the rents affordable, the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation provides assistance for 16 of the units to make up the difference between the approved market rent and the rent-geared- to-income paid by the tenant. S.A.M. Properties Inc. is monitoring the development to determine the feasibility of building more such developments.

In many areas of the country, says Tanya Hutchens , youth who are not living with their families but are too old to be wards of the Crown, are at risk of homelessness because of lack of life skills or access to support and training to develop these skills.

While many larger urban centres have resources including shelters and agencies to tackle this problem, many small towns and rural areas struggle to meet this challenge, which can often lead to the drift of homeless youth to urban areas.

The Affordable Housing Solution

Miramichi Youth House is a community- based charitable organization that serves at-risk youth by providing long-term housing and support. The agency operates a building that used to be a bar with some attached apartments. It has now been converted to house five youth at a time on a permanent basis with two additional short-term emergency spaces, along with kitchen space, communal living areas, counselling rooms and space for other services.

The building is owned by New Brunswick Housing, which holds the mortgage. Miramichi Youth makes no payments on the mortgage, which will be written off over time providing the organization abides by its mission and purpose. No other agency or organization on the Miramichi or in Northern New Brunswick serves the 16-19 age groups, male and female. Consequently, the agency is not duplicating the services of any other organization.

Participating youth are required either to go to school or be employed. They must also participate in the daily life of the group, through such things as doing chores. Miramichi Youth House has one full-time staff person and six part-time employees. Staff provide a supportive role to meet the needs of the youth who live at Miramichi Youth House. Staff for example, ensures residents attend school and have food and clothing, and provides employment counseling. While residents receive social assistance, they are not required to pay for their accommodation.

The government of New Brunswick provides some funding through the Department of Family and Community Services. The organization’s board of directors is responsible for raising the remainder of the necessary operating budget. The group has secured the support of local churches and businesses, as well as the municipal government. This CMHC report was reviewed by Tanya Hutchens.

Whether they are buying a new home or renovating their existing property, more Canadians than ever are looking for ways to make the places they live more energy-efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

To help homeowners make the move to greener living, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) partnered with George Brown College’s Institute Without Boundaries (IwB), TD Canada Trust and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to create canühome — a traveling exhibit that shows consumers what they “can” do to lower their monthly utility bills, improve indoor air quality and help protect the environment for generations to come.

canühome is a full-size, 850-square-foot home that draws inspiration from CMHC’s EQuilibrium™, Healthy Housing™ and FlexHousing™ initiatives. The exhibit showcases the latest in green and universal features and design, including:

• Improved indoor environment and air quality.
• A reduced ecological footprint through improved energy, water and resource efficiency.
• Universal, accessible and adaptable design that can continue to meet the needs of homeowners as their lives change over time.
• A wide range of energy-efficient appliances, products and technologies for the kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom and bedroom.
• FSC-certified wood products that are eligible for credits under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)® standards.
• Eligibility for affordable green financing incentives for buyers and renovators who purchase an energy-efficient home or carry out renovations designed to make their existing home more efficient.
• An intelligent design for building homes that last longer, consume less energy and are less costly to own, operate and maintain.

For more information about canühome or other initiatives that can help you save energy and reduce your environmental footprint call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642. This CMHC report was reviewed by Tanya Hutchens. For more than 60 years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s national housing agency and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) launched the EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative in May 2006 to support the construction of homes that balance the needs of our built and natural environments. Tanya Hutchens notes, EQuilibrium™ homes bring together, under one roof, the principles of occupant health and comfort, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, resource conservation, reduced environmental impact and affordability.

Now, three new builder and developer teams in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada have been chosen to take part in the EQuilibrium™ initiative, bringing their visions for an energy-efficient, eco-friendly future to reality. The winning projects include:

• The Green Dream Home (Kamloops, B.C.) — a solar-powered home that is designed by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Central Interior, and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) to take advantage of one of Canada’s sunniest cities;
• Harmony House (Burnaby, B.C.) — a two-storey ultra-efficient house with in-law suite that is created by Habitat Design + Consulting Ltd. and Insightful Healthy Homes Inc. to suit the Lower Mainland’s unique climate; and
• The Moncton VISION Home (Moncton, N.B.) — a highly-efficient home designed by AlternaHome Solutions Inc. and VISION Land Developments Ltd. This home is part of downtown Moncton’s “VISION Lands” development project.

When they are complete, these three projects will join the 12 other demonstration homes that are currently being planned, built or that are already open for visitors across the country, making the EQuilibrium™ initiative truly national in scope. Together, these homes offer Canadians a chance to see and learn first-hand about the objectives of EQuilibrium™ sustainable homes, including:

• Lower monthly utility bills in every season.
• A clean supply of renewable energy.
• Healthier, more comfortable living environments for occupants.
• Reduced waste, greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.
• A resource-efficient housing alternative that protects and preserves the environment for future generations.

For more information on the CMHC EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative or to find a demonstration home near you, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642. For more than 60 years, says Tanya Hutchens, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s national housing agency and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise. This CMHC report was reviewed by Tanya Hutchens.

TORONTO, April 17, 2009 - Greater Toronto REALTORS reported 3,681 transactions in the first half of April, down 7% compared to 3,955 during the same period last year.  “In lock-step with the favorable March results, resale housing market conditions in the first half of April were markedly improved compared to the winter time,” said TREB President Maureen O’Neill.  “Households that were on the sidelines at the beginning of the year are now taking advantage of lower interest rates and lower home prices.”  The average price for MLS sales was $383,161, down 4% from $399,117 last year. “The average home price in the GTA stabilized as resale market conditions tightened over the past two months,” according to Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis. “Existing home sales increased relative to new listings.” This TREB report was reviewed by Tanya Hutchens.

KITCHENER – WATERLOO, April 19, 2009 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), today announced that municipalities can begin applying for direct, low-cost loans for shovel-ready infrastructure projects through CMHC.

“Our Government understands the importance of infrastructure in maintaining strong and prosperous communities,” said Minister Finley. “We’re very pleased to officially launch our Municipal Infrastructure Lending Program, which will give municipalities access to the low-cost funding they need to move forward quickly on housing-related infrastructure projects. These projects will also provide job creation for the local community.”

Tanya Hutchens notes, Canada’s Economic Action Plan provides up to $2 billion in direct low-cost loans to municipalities, over two years, for housing-related infrastructure projects. Municipal infrastructure loans are available to any municipality in Canada and will provide a new source of funds for municipalities to invest in housing-related infrastructure projects. Eligible loans will be approved largely on a first come, first serve basis, however, CMHC will also seek to facilitate equitable access to the program and will work to encourage applications from urban and rural municipalities across Canada. Only infrastructure projects serving new or existing residential areas may be considered.

Eligible municipal infrastructure projects must directly relate to housing, says Tanya Hutchens, contributing to the efficient functioning of residential areas. Projects include, for example, infrastructure related to the provision of housing services such as water, wastewater and solid waste services, power generation; local transportation infrastructure within or into residential areas such as roads, bridges and tunnels; residential sidewalks, lighting, pathways, landscaping and green space.

“The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) is pleased to see this program launched so quickly,” said Gary Friend, President of CHBA. “This funding will not only provide needed municipal infrastructure for housing in our communities, but it will also help to create jobs and stimulate our economy.”

“This program will help municipalities across Canada,” said Ken Seiling, Regional Chair, Regional Municipality of Waterloo. “With access to preferential lending rates, it should assist many communities in advancing their critical infrastructure projects.”

Tanya Hutchens says, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country. This CMHC report was reviewed by Tanya Hutchens.