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 2025-2026, as of December 2025, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) invested $967.3 million in targeted infrastructure funds to support housing infrastructure.
• The Government of Canada will continue supporting First Nations housing on reserves. 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 $426 million over five years, 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 December 31, 2025, $6.1 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.
Since 2016 and of December 31, 2025, ISC has provided funding to support 32,169 homes, including 8,268 new unit constructions and 18,604 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, upgrades, and renovations. Since 2016 and as of December 31, 2025, CMHC has supported 19,938 homes, including 6,941 new unit constructions and 12,997 unit renovations and upgrades.
In April 2024, the Assembly of First Nations 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.
As announced in Budget 2025, the Minister of Indigenous Services will coordinate a cross-government Indigenous Housing Strategy following engagement with First Nations on reserve, Inuit Treaty Organizations, Métis governments, and Modern Treaty holders and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments. Engagement is underway and ongoing until June 30th.
Build Canada Homes will also work with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership to determine how this mission-driven organization and the catalyzation of this new modern housing industry can best contribute to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis identified needs and priorities.

If pressed on Indigenous Housing Strategy
• Building on momentum already underway to address housing need, Budget 2025 proposed a cross-government Indigenous Housing Strategy.
• Engagement is ongoing with First Nations on reserve, Inuit Treaty Organizations, Métis governments, Modern Treaty holders and Self-Governing Indigenous Governments as the first step to developing a successful Strategy. 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.
• As of December 31, 2025, 422 housing projects were completed, including 451 new unit constructions and 1,573 unit renovations and upgrades.
• ISC also continues to support First Nation communities through housing management capacity enhancement on reserves to build capacity, strengthen long-term community outcomes and advance transfer of housing service delivery to First Nations control. If pressed on results in First Nations housing
• Census data confirms that investments over the past decade are making a difference.
• Crowding of on-reserve housing stock has started to decline, and the percentage of on-reserve housing stock considered adequate is beginning to stabilize.
• The Community Well-Being index scores for communities on reserve are improving at an accelerated rate. If pressed on housing litigation actions
• Everyone in Canada 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.
• The Government of Canada is working with First Nations communities to advance long-term sustainable solutions to support access to safe and adequate housing in First Nation communities. If pressed on the St. Theresa Point Housing Class and Other Housing Litigation Actions
• The Government of Canada respects the choice of First Nations, including St. Theresa Point First Nation and Sandy Lake First Nation, to seek the Court’s assistance on the important issue of housing.
• On December 5, 2025, the Federal Court released its decision. As this matter is before the courts, the Government of Canada is limited in commenting on the decision or next steps at this time.
• ISC continues to work closely with First Nations to help support access to adequate housing for everyone in First Nations communities. If pressed on the Distinction-based First Nations Housing Strategy
• The Assembly of First Nations led the co-development of the 10-year National First Nations Housing and Related Infrastructure 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 the components of the Strategy, focusing on long-term infrastructure reforms and facilitating the gradual transfer of service delivery control to interested First Nations.
• Since late 2025, the Assembly of First Nations, supported by ISC funding, has launched an update to the strategy, with initial efforts centered on regional engagements with First Nations representatives. 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 $1.06 billion over the previous 3 fiscal years and $464 million for the current fiscal year 2026-2027. If pressed on the Department’s involvement with Build Canada Homes (BCH)
• Build Canada Homes will work with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership to determine how this mission-driven organization and the catalyzation of this new modern housing industry can best contribute to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis identified needs and priorities.
• There is significant alignment between BCH’s stated goals and the housing priorities of many Indigenous communities.
• ISC is supporting Build Canada Homes to meaningfully engage with First Nations.