WEST LORNE - Canada's New Government, the Governmentof Ontario and the Municipality of West Elgin held a sod-turning ceremony today to mark the official start of the construction of Heritage House, which will provide 16 new units of supportive affordable housing for seniors and single persons.

Joe Preston, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, on behalf of the HonourableMonte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development; Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters, on behalf of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Gerretsen; and Graham Warwick, Mayor of West Elgin, participated in today's ceremonies.

"Canada's New Government is committed to increase the availability of affordable housing for those who need it the most," said Mr. Preston. "This project will provide better access to quality, affordable homes for low-income individuals and seniors in West Lorne."

The $2.2 million project, sponsored by West Lorne Heritage Homes Not For Profit Corporation, received more than $1.1 million from the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. It will provide 16 new apartments at 154 Munro Street in West Lorne.

The federal and provincial funding for the project is complemented bymore than $622,000 in municipal financial incentives from the Municipality of West Elgin.

"The Municipality of West Elgin is making a significant investment but weneed to provide housing alternatives for our seniors or they will be forced tomove to other communities," said Mayor Graham Warwick. "Our seniors are vitalto the community and deserve to be able to have the option of staying nearfamily and friends in their retirement."

"The idea for Heritage House came out of a need for quality affordablehousing in West Lorne," said Harry Mezenberg, Chair of West Lorne Heritage Homes. "We are very grateful to the federal, provincial, and local government for their assistance and very appreciative of all the generous donations from individuals, service clubs, churches, and corporations for helping make this happen."

The new Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program Agreement comprises acommitment of $301 million from each of the two senior levels of government. In total, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest atleast $734 million in the program, which will provide affordable housing for 20,000 households in Ontario.