Question Period Note: Housing

N.A.

• Housing is essential to health, well-being, family and community. Everyone in Canada deserves a safe place to call home.

• In 2024–2025, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) invested $1.08 billion to support housing infrastructure, including $670.5 million under the First Nations On-Reserve Housing Program.

• The Government of Canada will continue supporting First Nations housing on-reserve. Safe and adequate housing is critical for health and social outcomes. It also stimulates economic growth, creates jobs, and increases revenue for businesses.

Significant budget investments including $462.1 million over six years ($461.9 million excluding funding for operating expenses), starting in 2024–2025, for Budget 2024, have supported Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and First Nation partners to address on-reserve housing gaps. Since 2016 and as of June 30, 2025, $3.55 billion has been invested for new construction, renovations and adaptions for climate and energy efficiencies. Those investments also include support for First Nations capacity enhancement for housing management on reserves, including subsidizing housing manager positions, training and certification for housing professionals, and support for the creation of a network of Indigenous housing financial organizations.

As of June 30, 2025, ISC has provided funding to support 24,894 homes, including 7,708 new unit constructions and 17,186 unit renovations and retrofits. ISC works in partnership with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to support housing projects in First Nations communities, including new builds, retrofits, and renovations. As of June 30, 2025, CMHC has supported 19,722 homes, including 6,704 new unit constructions and 13,018 unit renovations and retrofits.

ISC continues to work in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations and its Chiefs Committee on Housing and Infrastructure, and federal partners, to advance the priorities of the 10-year National First Nations Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy (2018), which aims to facilitate the transition of care, control and management of housing to First Nations. In April 2024, the AFN released its Closing the Infrastructure Gap report, which estimates the total cost for closing the infrastructure gap by 2030 to be more than $349 billion, with $135 billion of that amount required to close the housing gap alone. It is anticipated that the AFN will begin a review and update of the 2018 National Strategy in fiscal 2025-2026.

The Build Canada Homes (BCH) initiative is being incubated at Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, and represents a new federal entity responsible for building affordable homes, financing affordable home builders, and catalyzing a more productive homebuilding industry.

If pressed on investments in First Nations housing

• Having a safe home is essential to supporting First Nations in building the lives they want for themselves, their families, and their communities.

• In 2024–2025, 619 housing projects were completed, including 1,040 new unit constructions and 3,117 unit renovations and retrofits.

• ISC also continues to support First Nation communities through housing management capacity enhancement on reserves to build capacity and strengthen long-term community outcomes. If pressed on Budget 2025
• Through Budget 2025, the Government of Canada will continue to support Indigenous communities to address the unique housing challenges they face.

• This will include working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis leadership to determine how Build Canada Homes can best meet their identified needs and priorities.

• Budget 2025 also proposes an engagement, led by ISC, with First Nations on reserve, Inuit Treaty Organisations, Métis governments, and Modern Treaty holders and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments to develop a cross-government Indigenous Housing Strategy. If pressed on housing litigation actions

• Everyone, including First Nation people and communities, should have access to safe housing.

• The Government of Canada respects the choice of First Nations to seek the Court’s assistance on the important issue of housing.

• ISC will continue to work with First Nation partners to advance long-term sustainable solutions to support access to safe and adequate housing in First Nation communities. If pressed on the Distinction-based First Nations Housing Strategy

• First Nations led the co-development of the 10-year National First Nations Housing Strategy, endorsed by the Special Chiefs Assembly in December 2018.

• The Assembly of First Nations, ISC and other federal government departments meet regularly to advance implementation of the Strategy.

• This collaboration aims to enhance housing and infrastructure reforms through a long-term approach, focused on supporting First Nations. If pressed on housing funds committed to support children and families

• The Agreement-in-Principle on Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program, Jordan’s Principle and Budget 2022 committed $2 billion in funding for the First Nation Children’s Housing Fund.

• The funding is intended to support eligible First Nations to purchase, construct, or renovate housing units in their communities to meet the needs of children and families.

• ISC provided $622.5 million for the previous 2 fiscal years and $438 million for the current fiscal year 2025-2026.If pressed on the Department’s involvement with Build Canada Homes (BCH)
• Establishing Build Canada Homes (BCH) is a key Government priority, to build affordable housing and to catalyze a more productive homebuilding industry.
• There is significant alignment between BCH’s stated goals and the housing priorities of many Indigenous communities.
• ISC is supporting Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada to meaningfully engage with First Nations.