Philanthropy to aid federal plan to end Winnipeg homelessness

The federal government's bold plan to end homelessness in Winnipeg is getting some private money. The federal finance minister says the help will come from philanthropists. Now, he wouldn't say who, but there could be clues in who joined the prime minister last week in Winnipeg. The CBC's Ian Fraser is in our newsroom. So, Ian, what do we know about the private money? And the finance minister wouldn't say much, Brittany, but said some donors are raising their hands to help voluntarily. The new strategy to end homelessness calls for more than $1 billion from Ottawa to build 2,000 homes and a new mental health and addiction center all in Winnipeg. Speaking to CBC's Information Radio, Francois-Philippe Champagne says the plan will take everyone working together. It's really like the federal government, the province, the city, and also the philanthropic sector, which has said they want to play a role in that. So it's really all of us coming together because that's what you see. The definition of success is not to work in silos. The definition of success is to bring people together. Now, Champagne was in Winnipeg to speak at a Chamber of Commerce event. He called the federal plan to end homelessness here the Winnipeg model and said other provinces are interested. So, Ian, who do we think will be the private donors? Nothing's been confirmed, Brittany, but we can pull up video from Friday's news conference and see two of the people who are standing behind the Prime Minister. Winnipeg Jets co-owners Mark Chipman and David Thompson, two big philanthropists in the city's community. While neither would confirm Tuesday if they're giving money, Chipman said last week he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss how the private sector can help with the city's challenges, and he says the Prime Minister was receptive.