Question Period Note: Housing

• In response to long-standing housing gaps in Indigenous communities, our Government has committed over $6 billion in funding since 2016 for First Nations, Inuit and Métis housing.

• In partnership with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Indigenous Services Canada has supported the construction, renovation and retrofit of 25,102 homes on reserve since 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.

As of December 31, 2021 , ISC and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) together reported a total of 25,102 housing units built, renovated and retrofitted. Of that amount, ISC is responsible for 12,037 housing units divided as follows:
• 3,989 new unit constructions, 2,234 of which are completed,
• 8,048 unit renovations and upgrades, 4,802 of which are completed.

CMHC is responsible for 13,065 homes, of which 10,396 are completed.
ISC has been collaborating with the Assembly of First Nations and its Chief’s Committee on Housing and Infrastructure and federal partners to co-develop a National First Nation’s 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 $290 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, provided Indigenous Innovators with funding and supports to further develop their idea into implementable proposals. As of December 31, 2021, the Indigenous Steering Committee has approved eighteen projects to move to implementation. 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 reflect their unique realities and needs.

If pressed on funding for Indigenous housing
• Through Budget 2018, our Government 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.
• In addition, Budget 2022 committed $4.0 billion over seven years to support housing in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation communities.
• We are making the necessary investments and will continue to do the work to support Indigenous housing throughout the country.

If pressed on funding for First Nations housing
• Through Budgets 2016, 2018 and 2021 our Government has committed to more than $1.7 billion over 8 years for First Nations housing.
• Through Budget 2022, we’re increasing that investment by $2.4 billion over the next five years to support closing the housing gap in First Nations.
• In addition, the federal government will allocate $2 billion of the $20 billion to be provided for long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services program to target the housing needs of First Nations children once a final settlement agreement is reached.

If pressed on sufficiency of Budget 2022 investments
• The Assembly of First Nations has estimated the current housing gap in First Nations at just over $22 billion. We know that the scale of need is tremendous.
• Budget 2021 and 2022 investments will continue to support First Nations to increase the number of available homes and address critical housing needs.
• We will continue to work diligently with partners to advance the First Nations National Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy and to ensure that First Nations across the country have access to affordable housing.

If pressed on the Distinction-based First Nation’s Housing Strategy
• First Nations have led the co-development of a National First Nation’s 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 complaint to Federal Housing Advocate
• In 2019, our Government introduced the National Housing Strategy Act. This established the role of the Federal Housing Advocate to monitor progress and analyze systemic housing issues.
• I am aware that a complaint was brought forward regarding Indigenous women’s access to housing and await the Federal Housing Advocate and Minister of Housing and Diversity of Inclusion recommendations on next steps.
• We continue to work diligently with partners to advance the National Housing Strategy and ensure that all Canadians have access to safe, adequate and affordable housing.

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; eighteen projects are now in the implementation phase.
• 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 retooling existing community infrastructure, or purchasing and installing mobile structures.
• As of March 16, 2022, 130 community spaces were identified for retooling and 637 mobile structures were funded.
• We will continue to work closely with partners to keep communities safe.

If pressed on the links between insufficient housing and health problems
• We know that poor housing conditions can contribute to health concerns, including respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and tuberculosis.
• Through Budget 2021, we are committed to investing $596 million over three years to improving First Nations housing on reserve.
• This includes support for rehabilitation of housing units that do not meet health and safety standards (e.g., presence of mould growth, high levels of radon and poor indoor air quality).
• We will continue to work closely with partners to prevent and address health and safety risks.