Conservatives come up short with Housing Announcement
Ottawa
- The Harper government's plan to allow Aboriginal Canadians living on
reserves to buy their own homes is not enough to address the serious
housing problem facing First Nations communities, Liberal Indian Affairs
Critic Anita Neville said today.
"This announcement is a step in the right direction but is no
solution to
the overcrowding and lack of social housing facing First Nations
communities," said Ms. Neville (Winnipeg South Centre).
Today's announcement by the minority Conservative Government earmarks $300
million to create a fund that will protect banks from potential defaults
on mortgages held by Aboriginal home owners, with the goal of making
mortgages more accessible for on-reserve housing.
"The Kelowna Accord went so much further than today's announcement,
committing $1.6 billion to support market-based approaches and the
transformation of social housing on-reserve," said Ms. Neville.
"The
previous Liberal government also committed to address water and
infrastructure problems and reduce the on-reserve housing shortage by 80
per cent within ten years, through the Accord."
According to the Assembly of First Nations, over crowding in on-reserve
housing is rampant, with an average of 4.5 people living in every First
Nations home, compared to an average of 2.6 people living in the typical
non-aboriginal dwelling. The combination of overcrowding and lack of
running water on some First Nations communities is a major contributor to
health problems.
"The AFN estimates First Nations need 87,000 new housing units across
the country just to address this housing crisis," said Ms. Neville.
"This
government cannot simply ignore the need for social housing."
