I was hoping that people could list a few of the canadian government grants programs that they are aware of along with a possible link to them.

I know the region of Waterloo, (and several other regions in Ontario) offer first time home buyers grants up to $10,000 that can be used towards a downpayment. They are available to low-income buyers for first time home purchases under $226,000. The website link is www.region.waterloo.on.ca/aho, but if check with your local housing authority to see if they are running a similar program.

There are also many grants available to make energy upgrades on your home. The governments of Canada and Ontario offer rebates and programs to help assist you in retrofiting your home to be more energy efficient and sustainable. There are nearly $10,000 worth of grants available to many households to do this. Check out Natural Resources Canada at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/incentives.cfm, they have more on this.

Is that the type of grants you are looking for?

The government offers free housing. All you have to do is run as a MP and then become the leader of the party and hope your party gets the highest number of seats or second highest number of seats and you will get a free house. The problem with grants is that they are not free someone is paying.

I'm confused by your posting Salty...
Government grants are funded by tax dollars, yes... but does that make them a bad thing? Paying taxes gets us all sorts of wonderful things (like health care) that makes Canada a great place to live. Our services and programs is one of the reason why I love this country so much. How is the the government encouraging people to be more efficient and sustainable a bad thing?
I really don't understand your negative thinking. Yes, it can be annoying to have to pay out of your salary-- but it helps people. If we didn't pay taxes we wouldn't have roads, public transit, or many of the other wonderful things in this country that we take advantage of. It angers me when people badmouth those things that they themselves use every day and make no real effort to do something about it.
I've had several clients who have used the downpayment assistance and were incredibly thankful for this assistance. This is a GREAT program. It is helping many people-- who do eventually pay this money back to the government (when they re-sell their home). In fact, the way this program is set up is to be completely self-sustainable in the future by having the portions paid back go towards helping more people so that it doesn't have to rely on tax dollars.

Well I guess I just don't have rose colored glasses. Have you ever worked for the government? I did for 10 years. If you really want to see an inefficient system look no farther than our centrally planed heath care system. Even the CMA is against the way our system "works". If you can call a system that has long waiting list something to be proud of you have not spent much time traveling or living in other countries.

The reality of the situation is that government grants are totally inefficient. I would speculate that over 80% of any funds in any program are eaten up by the administration of the program and that is not adding in all the unfunded government pension liabilities. Just look at the amount that Indian affairs sucks out of the federal budget. We would be so far ahead just paying them directly and laying off the hole department.

Obviously you have not paid enough tax to be sick of paying. I have had years where I have had to pay them tons and could have retired years ago with what I have paid. I'm glad there are people like you that are happy paying. I will try to legally pay as little as possible. Yes I will record every mile I drive and save all my recites to make sure I do not pay them one extra cent. Governments never have to care about the bottom line because they can tax the heck out of us and there is nothing we can do.

I have worked in government positions (including a hospital for several years)and I do know how frustrating it can be, and how much red tape there is for everything. They are not perfect, but they are still better here than much of the rest of the world.
I have also travelled quite extensively (and lived in West Africa and the Middle East for several years) and know that well yes, you can get health care quickly around the world if you are rich-- this is definitely not the case for many others who cannot afford it. Many are stuck re-using needles, IVs and other equipment because they can't afford otherwise. Others will never even get to see a doctor because they can't afford it. I'd take long lines over their health care any day and I find it incredibly frustrating when people use long lines as an excuse. For the most part, people wait in lines because there are more severe injuries ahead of them -- that need more urgent care. Trust me, you'd appreciate this if you were in an accident or struck with severe illness.

Our system is by no means perfect-- I'll be the first to admit that... but it's prety damn good, by world standards. It is however currently being taken out from under us: eyecare, physiotherapy and other services no longer covered and is changing into a two-tiered system where they rich get better/faster service.

Government grants help those who are not fortunate enough to have paid enough taxes to be "sick of paying". So that they can get a leg up and start helping themselves and contribute back to the system. But I think that this conversation is now severely distracted from the original point.

Yes it makes me feel so much better to know our government the great "robin hood" of our time is looking out for the less fortunate souls in our country.

Just one more sarcastic comment in regards to health care. Our country was founded in 1867 the Canada health act as we know it was adopted in 1966. So for 99 years we where not a great place to live. Imagine that 7 years after our health care system was adopted we started to run up our debt. I'm sure glad our grandkids will be here to pay it off.

My main point with any and all grants is that the government rolls them out just before every election kind of like a feel good pill for the masses. Then they run on for ever without any accountability or cost accounting. We never seem to look at the basic opportunity cost of these programs. The odd time the Auditor General of Canada will point out the most outlandish of them.

I can hardly wait to see how much of our money will be forked over to the "big three". Now there is money down the drain. Just prop up every failing business and do it in volume and see where that gets us. Lets keep making those cars in Canada even if no one wants to buy them. How about a grant to buy them. Or better yet the government could just supply vehicle to the less fortunate that have not had the money to buy one. Just because some one doesn't work and save they should not be denied a good new made in Canada vehicle. Think of all the votes to be had...I should have been a politician.

LOL I'm joking.

I understand your point Salty... and of course the grants and government spending are not as efficient as they could be. I'm not denying that in the slightest. The only way that will change is if people complain to the right people. We live in a democracy-- so if you don't like it, write to your MPs. Take action.

I would rather our country have debt (find me a country without it!) than have no health care system. Then have to go into personal debt because of cancer or some other terrible injury or illness. And I would never have been able to have been university educated if it weren't for the assistance of the government-- which I am soo incredibly thankful for. Now I will make a higher salary and be able to pay back in my taxes. I find your apparent lack of concern for those less fortunate than you very frustrating.

Just so you know, debt is not necessarily a bad thing. Some of the countries with the highest debt per GDP are actually performing the best (just look at Japan!), and those with the lowest debt are not necessarily the countries with the best systems(Guinea, Oman, Libya...). Just some food for thought.

I have to agree with you on the bailout of corporations-- but that's a whole other ball of wax.

Well I guess my lack of concern for those less fortunate is because I have been there and have the Tee shirt to prove it.

Fortunately we live in a country that still rewards hard work and a determination.

Where would our country be if "never have been able to have been university educated if it weren't for the assistance of the government"... yes I'm so glad I subsidized your education. Just joking lol.

thanks for the gift Salty! Best one I've ever gotten

http://www.toronto.ca/affordablehousing/

Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program (COAP)

http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page1112.aspx

News Release:

http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page5663.aspx?DateTime=633512808000000000&PageMode=View

COAP Home Ownership Brochure:

http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=5447

TREB Government Programs:

http://www.torontorealestateboard.com/consumer_info/gov_programs/index.htm

The $10,000 Home Grant Program is a National initiative that is administered by the Municpal Level of Government.

Applicants must qualify according to the Munipalities criteria.
GRANTS are grants. If they sell before 20 years the grant is a loan. If they do not occupy the property, It is a loan. Investors cannot sneak in.

Home owners have a stronger credit rating and are paying local improvements, taxes, and contribute to their communities.

I welcome the Grant programs.

The end of western democracy is spelled out in the post above.

The populations will vote for those that give them the most even if the treasury is empty.

What happed to the concept of work and save up a down payment?

Hey what about a program where we could get more people to buy lets call it hum....let me think...how about Sub-prime mortgages. It could work great. What could be the down side?

For all those who are happy with the above grants please do not complain about high property taxes, fuel taxes and income tax. Enjoy it because that is what you will get.

"The government cannot demonstrate that the money it is spending on some important environmental programs is making a difference," Scott Vaughan, commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, said in the prepared text of the speech accompanying his report, which was tabled in the House of Commons Thursday.

for the entire article read it here http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/02/05/enviro-commissioner.html

Or how about this one

Canada's auditor general said Ottawa has little control over billions of dollars in federal finances which are transferred to the provinces for specialized programs like housing and transportation. http://www.ctv.ca/

This doesn't suprise me Salty. The government is often very inefficient and backwards. The best thing we can do is speak out against the problems as we see them and hope our politicians listen to us (otherwise what use is democracy anyway?).

I don't think this means an end to western democracy, but I think it is definitely time we reviewed what's happening in the government programs and make efforts to change the problem areas. I think the problems lies in enforcement and restructuring. There have been many reports on what's going wrong-- but these are often supressed or ignored and we continue on with business as usual. It's not a problem in this case as much in our programs, but in our regulation and enforcement policies.

I do have to agree with you that there is something to be said for saving up a downpayment for a purchase of a home... there is definitely a tendency to buy now and pay later, which is a dangerous trend. But increased *responsible* home ownership actually has many positive effects on the economy, -- giving a leg up to get there is not the biggest problem in my eyes.

We haven't been caught up in the subprime mortgage crisis as much as our southern neighbours, and we had more stringent policies regarding mortgages here in Canada... so we are not in nearly as bad of shape, but if we are not careful-- we will soon be there.
I don't have a problem with grants given out to people-- I do have a problem if they are given out irresponsibly.

Recessions are hard on families, marginal companies, young people starting out but on the up side they make people resourceful. When someone losses that life time job they are faced with uncertainty and fear. Some people rise up the challenge and the opportunity of a recession and they start a small "widget" factory. They hire other unemployed friends and work hard and make a superior product at a lower price. This new "widget" factory leverages the Internet to market their widgets around the world creating real wealth for the owners and workers.

This simple business model is what creates wealth for a country not government grants. Government grants are a tax on the population and a drag on the economy. If the government is running a deficit it is a tax on our kids.

If the governments wants to stimulate the economy they should reduce government red tape for small business. Most small business face a unreal wall of bureaucrats at four levels of government. They all have rules and harsh methods of compliance and god help the entrepreneur who does not comply 100%. They do not care about how may people you employ or the real wealth you are bringing into the country.

Grants are a drug for the masses so they feel good. They justify the government roll as nanny and foster the nanny state.