VICTORIA - The Governments of Canada and British Columbia are committing an additional investment of more than $300 million over five years, to help more individuals and families in housing need access affordable housing. The joint funding will be delivered through an extension to the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) agreement.

"Our Government remains committed to smart investments in housing to create better economic outcomes for the Canadian families who benefit from these programs," said the Honourable Candice Bergen, federal Minister of State for Social Development. "By partnering with the provinces and territories we want to ensure that this investment improves the quality of life of low-income Canadians, and creates needed jobs and opportunities for apprentices."

"The extension of this agreement will help us to create more housing options for British Columbians," said Rich Coleman, B.C.'s Deputy Premier and Minister Responsible for Housing. "Over the next five years, this funding will help build new affordable housing, enhance our rental assistance programs and support partnerships that will contribute to stronger, more sustainable communities."

The federal portion of this funding comes from Economic Action Plan 2013, which announced the Government of Canada's commitment to investing more than $1.25 billion nationally over five years to extend the Investment in Affordable Housing and to creating opportunities for apprentices, which will support the training of skilled labour in residential housing. Governments will report annually to the public regarding the investments and progress toward achieving the intended outcomes of the IAH.

The Province of B.C. and the federal government will each contribute $150 million under the IAH extension agreement (April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2019). The Province of British Columbia will commit the joint annual funding as follows:

• $30 million to support and enhance existing programs; and
• $30 million toward new construction or renovations.

On July 25, 2011, the Governments of Canada and British Columbia announced an IAH agreement with a combined investment of some $180 million for the 2011-14 period. This new agreement extends the original agreement for the 2014-19 period with an additional combined investment of more than $300 million. From April 2011 to December 2013, the IAH had already helped more than 177,500 households nationally, and close to 2,220 in B.C.

Since 2001, the Government of B.C. has invested $3.6 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, more than 98,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.

To find out more about affordable housing in British Columbia, visit: www.bchousing.org

Since 2006, the Government of Canada has invested more than $16.5 billion in housing. For B.C., this represents an investment of some $1.8 billion. By working with its partners, the federal government has helped some 880,000 Canadians individuals and families including low-income seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.

To find out more about how the Government of Canada, through CMHC, is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1 800 668-2642 or visit: www.cmhc.ca/affordablehousing

For more information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, call 1 800-O Canada or visit:www.actionplan.gc.ca

AMY PREISER (ELLE DECOR) - The new, designer-approved, bachelor pad essentials. Fridge full of beer not included.

1. A PLACE TO SIT AND EAT (THATS NOT A COFFEE TABLE)

"As you age, it gets harder and harder to sustain that eating-at-the-coffee-table lifestyle," says designer Mara Miller, who runs New York-based Carrier and Company with her husband Jesse Carrier. “A dining table—even a small-scale one—makes it much easier to entertain."

2. A BEAUTIFUL CHEST OF DRAWERS

“It’s a great investment piece," says Oliver Furth, of the eponymous Los Angeles firm. "When you’re in a smaller home, it can be a focal point in your living room. And when you move into a larger house, it can be your bedroom dresser.” The important thing here—don't skimp on quality. “I work with a lot of young clients and we talk about where to spend and where to save, and a set of drawers is exactly the type of thing to spend on. When you’re thinking about drawers that you’ll open and close a million times, don’t skimp.”

3. RISK

“Men tend to be so practical about their furniture choices,” says Jessica Geller, who runs the New York-based firm id810 with partner Virginia Toledo. “So it can be hard to convince them to take a chance with something bold that’s not necessarilyneeded. But when we see guys take that risk, like the client we convinced to try this black Shagreen wallpaper, it ends up being their favorite piece.” Other benefits to the bold piece? “It’s probably going to help him land a partner,” adds Toledo.

4. A DESK THATS PART OF YOUR HOME - NOT SQUIRRELED AWAY IN A HOME OFFICE

Unless you work from home full-time and require a fully separate office, Miller and Carrier recommend incorporating a stylish desk into your decor. “People are multitasking all the time now,” says Miller. “You deserve a space where you can work while still enjoying the best light or the best views your home has to offer.”

5. WHITE SHEETS
“There’s something that feels very clean about getting into a white bed. And white sheets—particularly Percale with a high thread count—are a great investment that you will never tire of,” says Furth. “Plus, they’re never going to offend a guest in your bed.”

6. A WELL DEVELOPED LIBRARY

It doesn’t have to be an entire room, but well-stocked bookshelves speak volumes. “It shows that you’re well-read and gives the feeling that you’re well-traveled as well,” says Toledo. “At a time when everyone’s so iPad-oriented, having hard copies of books has an almost magical quality.” Toledo and Geller also recommend mixing in personal objects here, so it looks more like home. “Think pieces you’ve picked up in travels, or from when you were a child. It gives texture and personality to the shelves,” says Geller.

7. SOMETHING ELSE IN THE ROOM WITH YOUR TV

“We never encourage clients to hide the TV,” says Carrier. “Instead, we try to make it part of the setting.” He and Miller recommend adding pieces to your TV room to keep it from looking like a tech center. Nice furniture, a stack of books, lamps—all will do. “Technology is getting smaller and smaller,” says Miller. “It’s passé to show off giant speakers or accessories.”

8. A BATHROOM THAT'S YOUR SANCTUARY

“People think a luxurious bathroom is a female thing, but our male clients all love and need bathroom amenities that are truly comforting,” says Geller. On the high-end, that means jets in the shower, a steam room, or radiant floors. “But it can also be as simple as a shower bench—somewhere for a man to sit and decompress with hot water coming down—or just a designated and comfortable place to shave, with a well-
placed mirror and very plush bathmat,” adds Toledo.

9. LIGHTING OPTIONS

“Pendants, sconces, lamps, dimmers, three-way light switches—you want to be able to change your lighting appropriately,” says Furth. “The kitchen needs a bright light for cooking but you’ll want the option to dim if you’re eating in there. Your bedroom and dining room need flattering light. Your living room needs a functional light for reading and in the bathroom, you need a strong light in front of your face to avoid shadows.”

10. SEATING THAT IS NOT A SECTIONAL

“When you think of a bachelor pad, you think sectional...generally a leather one, but people can still get comfortable in a way that isn’t so expected,” says Miller, who recommends a sofa with chairs and ottomans as an alternative. Adds Carrier, “With a sectional, one person gets the chaise part, and there’s no room for a guest. With a sectional, someone always loses. This is the piece that means you’re going to stay a bachelor forever.”

MICHELLE DE SILVA (GEORGIA STRAIGHT) - A Large spinning chandelier by B.C. artist Rodney Graham is set to be installed under the Granville Street Bridge. The sculpture, which will hang directly over Beach Avenue, is associated with the Vancouver House development by Westbank Projects Corporation.

The chandelier is part of a larger exhibition, Gesamtkunstwerk—a German word loosely translated to mean artwork synthesized from many art forms—opening March 22. The show curated by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who has also been tapped to design the 52-storey Vancouver House, will observe Vancouver’s architectural coming-of-age.

Graham’s work measures four by six metres and mimics an 18th century candelabra. The spinning chandelier will slowly rotate as it ascends, and once per day, release and spin rapidly back to its starting point.

The Abbotsford-born artist best known for his association with the Vancouver School group of artists has worked in painting, photography, performance, music, and film. His work has been shown at the Venice Biennale, Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London, and Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. In 2011, Graham won the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual Arts.