Question Period Note: Housing

• There are longstanding housing gaps that exist in Indigenous communities.

• In response, our Government committed over $1.7 billion in funding (in Budget 2017 and 2018) for distinctions-based housing strategies.

• For First Nations housing on reserve, and in partnership with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, we have committed more than $1 billion to the construction, renovation and retrofit of 23,294 homes since Budget 2016.

• There is more to do and we continue to work in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation partners to co-develop and implement community-led housing strategies.

If pressed on funding
• Through Budget 2018, our Government has invested $600 million over three years for First Nations housing; $500 million over 10 years for Métis Nation housing; and $400 million over 10 years for Inuit-led housing.

• This is in addition to the $290 million over 10 years to support housing in Nunavut announced in Budget 2017.

• In addition, Budget 2021 committed $4.3 billion over four years to support infrastructure projects in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation communities, including housing.

• We are making the necessary investments and will continue to do the work to support Indigenous housing throughout the country.

If pressed on the Distinction-based First Nations Housing Strategy
• First Nations have led the co-development of a National First Nations 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 advance 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, in a way that respects regional differences and First Nations’ readiness.

If pressed on 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 fund is designed to support Indigenous-led, community-driven projects that could serve as blueprints for new approaches.

• The Indigenous Steering Committee selected 24 Innovators; seventeen projects have received implementation funding.

• The Indigenous Taskforce of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is participating as mentors, to support the Innovators throughout the accelerator period.

If pressed on the Insufficient COVID-19 Related Infrastructure
• We recognize that poor housing conditions can contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

• We are working with communities to identify and support local surge health infrastructure needs to screen, triage, and isolate in case of an outbreak.

• Approaches include re-tooling existing community infrastructure, or purchasing and installing mobile structures.

• As of October 31st, 2021, 118 community spaces were identified for re-tooling and 566 mobile structures were funded.

• We will continue to work closely with partners to keep communities safe.

N/A

None