Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown feels he has made significant progress with federal officials on accessing more money funding for social housing.
Brown left Ottawa on Thursday following meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, federal ministers, deputy ministers, key representatives in government as well as three of the province’s four senators and two of its MPs.
Brown said he had a great meeting with Families, Children and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen about making the application process for affordable and accessible housing work more efficiently. Hussen told the city it should be looking at bunching projects together rather than seeking money for projects on an individual basis.
“He suggested grouping three, four or five projects and sending those off,’’ Brown said. “He said his department is more than willing to provide assistance in that (type of) planning.’’
The mayor said there is a $755-million pot of money to tap into. It’s just a matter of finding ways to make the process more expedient.
Brown said the city should also be talking to private developers and advocates for social housing like Bill Campbell, president of Kings Square Affordable Housing Corporation, when it comes to planning these projects.
The topic of a new multi-use sports and entertainment complex came up.
Brown met with Communities and Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna but the mayor said she quickly shot down any chance the federal government will help fund such a facility.
“She asked if we had a professional or semi-professional team there. I said, ‘yes’. She said, ‘next, we’re moving on, we’re not doing that’.’’
The teams being referred to are the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders and the professional basketball Island Storm, both of which play out of Eastlink Centre.
The way the federal government looks at it, if it gives a city like Charlottetown money for a multi-use facility, big cities that have professional sports teams would expect the same treatment.
Still, Brown said he’s not giving up.
The mayor pointed out that Ontario-based Sierra Planning and Management is currently looking at funding options for such a project and is expected to report back to council by March or April.
He also brought up the aging Cody Banks Arena and Simmons Sport Centre and was told by the federal minister there is funding available for energy-efficient buildings.
“She’s the former minister of environment. If we reduce the carbon footprint, the money is there.’’
Brown said McKenna was much more keen to help the city with flood mitigation measures. The city is looking to refurbish the Sherwood reservoirs and booster station, upgrade the Winter River wellfield treatment facilities and increase the capacity at the Suffolk station.
Brown also met with Jill Pilgrim, Atlantic adviser to the minister of employment, to discuss returning P.E.I. to a single EI zone, and to the heritage minister about accessing federal funding under the birthplace of Confederation initiative.
“I’m not coming back with a suitcase full of money,’’ Brown said. “I’d like to but I’m coming back with a lot of hope. It was a very good start but will require more work in terms of following up.’’
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