Budget commits $400 million to aboriginal housing in next two years
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Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan is parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
The government of Canada is taking concrete action to address the housing needs facing aboriginal people and families across Canada. Improved aboriginal housing is key to creating better living conditions for individuals and families, which leads to greater community stability.
Providing First Nation members living on reserve with housing opportunities like those available to other Canadians is a fundamental part of our efforts to improve First Nation housing.
Market housing opportunities, more and better social-housing units, less overcrowding -- these factors have guided our government and were integral to the targeted housing investments announced in Canada's Economic Action Plan.
Budget 2009's strong commitment of $400 million for aboriginal housing over the next two years is one in a series of steps taken since our Conservative government came to office three short years ago. It builds on our ongoing housing investments through Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
From new social housing projects to renovating existing homes and servicing lots, this will help meet the needs of families and communities. This investment will also assist the transition to market-based housing on reserves and address immediate housing needs. It will also serve as an economic stimulus for many First Nations and rural areas by generating employment, developing skilled trades and creating small businesses.
Budget 2009 will also affect aboriginal people living in urban centres as they will be eligible to benefit from over a billion dollars of targeted social housing investments. Northerners, including aboriginal Canadians, will benefit from an additional $200 million over two years to support social housing in the territories.
Many aboriginal leaders have reacted positively to the budget by saying it is encouraging and a step in the right direction.
B.C. Regional Chief Shawn Atleo said, "The government deserves some credit for listening and trying to address some of our concerns by directing significant funding to address them."
Chief Ed John of the B.C. First Nations Summit added, "We are confident that these investments will prove that investing in our communities can help to turn around the national economic crisis faced by all Canadians."
The investments above complement our $300-million First Nations Market Housing Fund that was announced last May. This fund supports a new approach that provides First Nations people living on reserve a better chance to own their own homes. We estimate that this initiative will help provide for up to 25,000 new housing units over 10 years.
Our Conservative government is responding to the needs of aboriginal Canadians. In three short years, we have made good strides together. The partnerships on the road to bettering the lives of First Nations, Métis and Inuit will continue under a Stephen Harper government.
