Stimulus Funds Working in Toronto

Investment will improve services for homeless youth and Canadians living in poverty

Toronto, Ontario, February 2, 2010 – The Honourable John Baird, Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister, along with Ruth daCosta, Executive Director of Covenant House Toronto and Dr. Rick Tobias, President and CEO of the Yonge Street Mission, today announced federal infrastructure funding of more than $1.09 million toward the renovations of buildings owned and operated by Covenant House Toronto and the Yonge Street Mission.

“Canada’s Economic Action Plan is ensuring that Ontario emerges strong from this period of economic recovery,” said Minister Baird. “As we enter the second phase of the Plan, our government will continue with the rapid implementation of our Plan through important infrastructure investments like the ones announced today. We are pleased to support Covenant House Toronto and the Yonge Street Mission as they continue to provide invaluable adult and youth programs and services.”

“We are thrilled that we have received this funding,” Covenant House Executive Director Ruth daCosta said. “Without it, we could not undertake this expansion to our program which will enable us to better meet the needs of homeless youth.”

“The Yonge Street Mission is very grateful for this wonderful support. Being able to strengthen our infrastructure with the help of this grant will mean that the people living in poverty with whom we journey will be better served. Programs will be improved and expanded, staff will be better resourced, and the overall condition of our buildings will be upgraded,” said Karen S. Bach, Mission Program/Ministry Officer.

The proposed renovations will help prolong the life of the buildings and enable both Covenant House Toronto and the Yonge Street Mission to expand their community programming and services. The total eligible cost of the Covenant House Toronto project is more than $1.25 million; Canada and Covenant House Toronto are each providing $627,500. The total eligible cost of the Yonge Street Mission project is $930,000; Canada and the Yonge Street Mission are each contributing $465,000.

As Canada’s largest youth shelter, Covenant House Toronto provides a wide range of services under one roof, including crisis care, education, counselling, health care and employment assistance. For the past 28 years, Covenant House has helped thousands of young people move from a life on the street to a life with a future.

For more than 113 years, the Yonge Street Mission has been providing diverse programs, making a positive difference in the lives of families, seniors, socially isolated adults, homeless street youth and children. Its services include a food bank and meals programs, employment and computer training, school readiness programs, counselling, daycare and a post-secondary scholarship fund.

These projects are two of more than 1800 across Ontario that are being realized thanks to close to $1.3 billion in federal funding under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. Federal financial support comes from the $4-billion, Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial, municipal and community construction-ready infrastructure projects that can be completed by March 31, 2011.

Contacts:

James Kusie
Office of Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Rose Cino
Communications Manager
Covenant House Toronto
416-204-7081

Stephanie Lear
Manager of Public Relations and Marketing
Yonge Street Mission
416-929-9614

Additional information

For more information on investments in infrastructure, please visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca.

For more information about the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.