Question Period Note: Indigenous Housing & Infrastructure Investments

N.A.

• As per our Build Canada Homes announcement, we are committed to working with key provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to help fight homelessness and ensure affordable housing for all Canadians.
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) supports the distinct needs of Indigenous Peoples by working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Modern Treaty and Self-Government partners.
• As the Government of Canada is rapidly moving to address Canada’s housing crisis, we continue to work with Indigenous partners to ensure funding responds to their unique housing and infrastructure needs.

As part of the federal government’s commitment to ensuring safe, affordable, and adequate housing for all, the Government of Canada has made historic levels of investment into distinctions-based and northern investments support programs delivered directly by Indigenous partners. These CIRNAC-delivered investments are being delivered in a way that builds capacity for Indigenous partners and puts decision making in their hands.
Distinctions-based housing and infrastructure investments are leading to positive impacts and results that are contributing to the narrowing of gaps. While challenges remain, Indigenous partners highly value the approach to investment delivery that is supporting the broader goal of renewing Crown Indigenous relationships and advancing self-determination.
The remaining housing and infrastructure gap is significant and will take substantial and sustained time and effort to fully address. It will require whole-of-government coordination and concerted efforts by all responsible governments and organizations.

If pressed on housing and infrastructure results
• Federal investments are supporting Indigenous-led approaches to addressing their housing and infrastructure priorities.
• For example, Inuit partners have built 626 new housing units, repaired 469 existing units, enhanced Inuit-led housing programs, and carried out essential land acquisition and development work.
• Métis partners have also constructed or purchased 1,865 houses, provided downpayment assistance to 2,118 households, renovated 6,524 houses, and provided rent supplements to 10,933 families. If pressed on Northern Housing and Infrastructure
• This government is committed to providing access to safe and affordable housing for Indigenous communities in the Arctic and the North.
• Housing and the necessary supporting infrastructure are critical to improving socio-economic and health outcomes and ensuring a better future for these communities. If pressed on the Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy
• Indigenous households in urban, rural, and northern communities across Canada face challenges accessing adequate and affordable housing.
• Important investments are being delivered to Indigenous partners to help address the needs of their members living in urban, rural and northern communities.