Question Period Note: Housing

• Our Government is co-developing and implementing distinctions based Indigenous housing strategies with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners.

• Budget 2018 invested:
o $600 million over three years for First Nations housing;
o $500 million over 10 years for Métis Nation housing; and
o $400 million over 10 years for Inuit-led housing in addition to the $240 million over 10 years to support housing in Nunavut announced in Budget 2017.

• This funding and approach, premised on Indigenous-led housing delivery, is a significant step towards addressing the housing needs in Indigenous communities.

BACKGROUND

As of December 31, 2019, ISC and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) together showed a total of 18,744 housing units built, renovated and retrofitted. Of that amount, ISC is responsible for 8,243 housing units divided as follows:
• 2,743 new unit constructions, 1,561 of which are completed
• 5,500 unit renovations and upgrades, 3,169 of which are completed

CMHC is responsible for 10,501 homes divided as follows:
• 3,036 new unit constructions, 1,673 of which are completed
• 7,465 unit renovations and retrofits, 6,758 of which are completed
ISC has been collaborating with the Assembly of First Nations and its Chiefs Committee on Housing and Infrastructure and federal partners to co-develop a National First Nations Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy, supported by $600 million over three years announced in Budget 2018. The Strategy was endorsed at the December 5, 2018 Special Chiefs Assembly, outlining the path forward to transition the care, control and management of housing to First Nations.
CIRNAC has worked in partnership with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit land claim governments and organizations, CMHC and Employment and Social Development Canada to develop the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy, which was made public on April 4, 2019. The Strategy is premised on self-determination with Inuit recipients holding the responsibility, decision making powers and capacity to meet housing needs at the regional level. Budget 2018 allocated $400 million over 10 years to support Inuit-led housing in the Inuit regions of Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and Inuvialuit, with an additional $240 million over 10 years for Nunavut from Budget 2017 through CMHC to the Government of Nunavut.
Canada and the Métis Nation signed the Canada-Métis Nation Accord in April 2017, with a number of year one priorities that parties agreed to collaborate on, including a Métis Nation Housing Strategy. On July 19, 2018, the Métis Housing Sub-Accord was finalized, outlining the design, delivery and administration of housing services undertaken by the Governing Members of the Métis Nation to address the purchase of new houses, the repair of existing houses and the provision of rent-supplements to families most in need. The Housing Sub-Accord, funded at $500 million over 10 years announced in Budget 2018, reflects a shared commitment to narrow the core housing needs gap and further Indigenous self-determination in this important area of social policy.
The Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative was launched on April 11, 2019, by the Minister of Indigenous Services and co-chairs of the Indigenous Steering Committee. 342 applications were received and 24 were selected by the Steering Committee as part of the Accelerator process. The Accelerator, launched January 20, 2020 provides Indigenous Innovators with funding and supports to further develop their idea into implementable proposals. The Initiative is being done in partnership with Infrastructure Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge and addresses the Government of Canada’s commitment to a process specific to Indigenous communities that reflects their unique realities and needs.

If pressed:
• Our Government is working with Indigenous partners each and every day to address the unacceptable housing gaps that exist across the country.
• For First Nations housing on reserve, and in partnership with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, we have committed more than $1 billion with 18,744 homes being built and renovated since Budget 2016.
• We do know, however, that there is much more still to do and we continue to work in partnership with First Nations to implement community-led solutions.

Distinction-based First Nations Housing Strategy :
• First Nations have led the development of a First Nations National Housing Strategy to ensure housing reform is reflective of their needs, endorsed by the Special Chiefs Assembly on December 5, 2018.
• The Assembly of First Nations, Indigenous Services Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation meet regularly to co-develop the national strategy and plan for its implementation.
• This collaboration ensures that housing and infrastructure reforms target a long-term approach to support the transition to First Nations care, control and management of housing.

Distinction-based Inuit Housing Strategy:
• Improving Inuit housing outcomes is a priority for our Government.
• As stated by the Prime Minister, the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy, which was released in April 2019, was designed by Inuit and will be delivered by Inuit.
• The Strategy provides long-term vision and direction for Inuit housing premised on self-determination.
• Work is already well underway, including directly by Inuit, to deliver Budget 2018 Inuit housing investments, as well as joint work to implement the strategy to further address Inuit housing needs.

Distinction-based Métis Housing Strategy :
• Improving Indigenous housing outcomes is a priority for our Government.
• On July 19, 2018, the leaders from the Métis Nation and Government of Canada signed the Canada-Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord, which will improve Métis access to – and control of – affordable and social housing.
• The Canada-Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord reflects a shared commitment to narrow the core housing need gap and further Indigenous self-determination in this important area of social policy.
• We will continue working to close the unacceptable housing gap for Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative:
• Our Government knows that supporting Indigenous led solutions is the only way to address the unacceptable socioeconomic gap.
• This $36 million innovation fund is designed to support Indigenous-led, community-driven projects that could serve as blueprints for new approaches.
• The Indigenous Steering Committee has selected 24
Innovators, who will refine their ideas during the accelerator period, which began at a launch event in January 2020 and will end in September 2021.
• The Indigenous Taskforce of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is participating as mentors, to support the Innovators throughout the accelerator period.

Indigenous Housing and COVID-19:
• We recognize that many Indigenous communities face unique challenges and that poor housing conditions can contribute to the spread of COVID-19.
• We are working closely with communities to support effective self-isolation, hygiene, and sanitation to minimize transmission.
• We are also working quickly with Indigenous partners to flow funding under the Indigenous Community Support Fund to ensure Indigenous peoples are not left behind in this critical time.
• We anticipate that housing projects may experience delays and challenges due to access to critical trades and services.

Insufficient COVID-19 Related Infrastructure:
• We recognize that First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are among the most vulnerable.
• We are working closely with individual communities to proactively prepare community specific response plans for surge health infrastructure needs.
• Immediate attention is being given to remote and isolated communities.
• We have been clear that supports for Indigenous communities are not limited by financial capacity.
• We will continue to work closely with communities and partners to coordinate resources and keep communities safe.