P.E.I. budget draws mixed reactions from business groups, advocates [Video]

While those working with the P.E.I. Fight for Affordable Housing are excited to see a $10-million program to work with non-profit groups and housing co-ops to build new affordable housing units in P.E.I.’s provincial budget, they worry the money could be coming too late.

“It’s something we have been calling for for a while and we think it’s a good way to keep community groups in the process while building and maintaining affordable housing,” said Cory Pater, a member of the P.E.I. Fight for Affordable Housing.

“It would have been great three or four years ago.”

The program also includes keeping existing affordable rental units on the market, but there aren’t many of those to save, Pater said.

“We’re at a point now where we’ve lost so many units that looking at preserving them isn’t going to be nearly as effective as it would have been had we gotten on …