Ottawa defends blueprint for Indigenous housing

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This article was published 21/04/2022 (1371 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — The federal Liberals are defending the billions they’ve allocated for Indigenous housing, arguing despite being much less than what’s needed, it will improve the lives of First Nations.

“This is a healthy amount, and we are going to demonstrate that we can put every single dollar to good use,” Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu told the Free Press.

“Listen, I can’t speak to the decision-making process of Finance (Canada).”

Going into the April 7 budget, the Assembly of First Nations had sought $44 billion over 10 years to address overcrowding on reserves, with an additional $16 billion (annually) to account for the growing population.

Separately, the government arm’s-length National Housing Council called for at least $6.3 billion over two years, for Indigenous people living off reserve. Instead, the Liberals allocated a $4-billion increase for Indigenous housing over seven years, including $2.4 billion for those living on reserves. There is also $300 million for an Indigenous urban housing strategy, which was promised five years ago.

That means a pledge in December to make $1 billion “available by the upcoming summer construction period” for Indigenous housing has instead resulted in just $652 million allocated for up to March 2023.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said it appreciated the funding but said it won’t do much to stem the health problems created by overcrowded homes.

“First Nations are in such a dire housing crisis that it simply is not enough,” the assembly wrote. “The solutions identified in the budget still require monies that our First Nation citizens do not have.”

Hajdu would not say how much funding she had sought for Indigenous housing, arguing it breaches protocol. However, she has described making an “ambitious ask” of Finance Canada, and hinted more cash could come.

“We will do everything in our power to spend that allotment of money, year over year… to build those houses,” she said. “We will be coming back to Finance (Canada) as we are successful in spending the fiscal allotment.”

Hajdu also noted as part of a massive compensation deal for First Nations in foster care, Ottawa is planning to spend $2 billion on building and upgrading various buildings that serve youth on reserves. She argued getting housing built on reserves is often a matter of bands overcoming barriers such as buying reserve land or connecting lots with water and roads.

“Some First Nations have the land mass and the civil engineering in place that they can immediately be able to put houses up on serviced lots. Other communities don’t even have the capacity,” Hajdu said.

That’s why the Liberals have replenished an infrastructure fund to help communities get that work done, she said.

However, northern Manitoba MP Niki Ashton said that doesn’t justify earmarking what she deemed a pittance.

“This is not rocket science; we need to get past the excuses. We know what’s needed, and communities have waiting lists for houses,” said the NDP MP.

“This is not a stagnant situation; it is getting worse in every First Nation I visit in our region.”

In February, the Cross Lake band tied a deadly house fire to the overcrowding in that community, which has 1,200 houses for roughly 10,000 people.

The community, known as Pimicikamak Cree Nation, implored Ottawa to change legislation that prevents First Nations from building more housing, and to put up more cash.

“Reconciliation means investing in housing; it means ending the third-world housing conditions in First Nations and we need to see that from this government,” Ashton said.

Meanwhile, the Liberals have allocated funding to finally come up with an urban-Indigenous housing strategy, five years after they promised one. Hajdu said making actual progress will require provinces to step up.

“It is something that has been called on for a very long time,” she said.

“By dedicating this money toward a strategy, I think we have the capacity to really step into a space as a federal government where we ought to be contributing — but also to encourage other partners at other levels of government, to take the responsibility as well, to create good, decent housing for citizens within their own jurisdictions.”

Hajdu noted Ottawa has promised $11 billion in new spending on Indigenous issues in last week’s budget, including support for commemorating residential school burial sites and mental health programming.

However, the AFN noted, “the $11 billion is a substantial reduction from the rate of investment this government had made over its first six years in office, and falls short in addressing the urgent and long-term needs identified by First Nations.”

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca