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Local transportation infrastructure projects—including local roads—are candidates for low-cost loans from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has announced municipalities can begin applying for direct, low-cost loans for 'shovel-ready' infrastructure projects.

Over two years, the country's Economic Action Plan will provide up to $2 billion in direct loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure projects. (Eligible loans will be approved largely on a first-come, first-serve basis, but CMHC is encouraging applications from both urban and rural municipalities.)

Eligible municipal infrastructure projects must directly relate to housing, contributing to the efficient functioning of residential areas. Possibilities include:
• infrastructure related to housing services such as power generation or water, wastewater, and solid waste services;
• local transportation infrastructure (e.g. roads, bridges, and tunnels) within or into residential areas;
• residential sidewalks;
• lighting;
• pathways;
• landscaping; and
• green space.

In other CMHC news, the federal government and the Province of British Columbia are launching a $123-million Seniors' Rental Housing Initiative to build up to 1000 new housing units for the elderly and people with disabilities. Construction of the first 218 units will start in 19 communities over the next few months.

The new seniors' rental housing will be created through partnerships with municipalities, non-profit housing providers, and the private sector. In most cases, modular, manufactured housing construction will promote wood product use.