New funding announced in Tuesday’s federal budget will bring a boost to Island facilities that assist some of the province’s most vulnerable populations, says Premier Wade MacLauchlan.
The budget included a P.E.I.-specific initiative that will see $50.8 million invested over five years into the province’s public safety housing project.
The project is primarily aimed at creating shared spaces for individuals with complex health or social needs and will support structured social housing, life skills training and enhanced access to integrated and assisted technology in order for those individuals to successfully live in their communities.
“This is something we fought for dating back to the discussions in 2017 and into 2018 around health transfers,” said MacLauchlan, referencing health accord negotiations.
Since then, MacLauchlan said there have been ongoing conversations with the federal government to fund those spaces.
MacLauchlan said the planning process for the project is now underway.
“This $50.8 million is a commitment that reflects a good relationship with the federal government but also leadership and advocacy on our part,” said MacLauchlan, adding this was the first time since becoming premier that he saw P.E.I. mentioned specifically in the federal budget’s table of contents.
“This is very significant in terms of results for Prince Edward Islanders in this area that, at its core, would be mental health and addictions combined with housing.
“It’s a very big boost.”
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