Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs

Comité permanent des affaires autochtones et du Nord

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 13, 2022 -

In February 2022, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs began a study on the effects of the housing shortage on Indigenous Peoples across Canada. Over the course of seven meetings, the committee heard from Indigenous organizations, communities and governments; housing associations, corporations and federal and territorial governments.

Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Member of Parliament for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce – Westmount, Quebec, and Chair of the committee presented a report entitled "The Effects of the Housing Shortage on Indigenous Peoples in Canada". First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada have been dealing with a longstanding housing crisis that has severe consequences for their health and well-being. The committee’s report discusses the scope, contributing factors and effects of the housing shortage in Indigenous communities. It also identifies solutions to the housing shortage provided by Indigenous communities, organizations and individuals. Finally, the committee’s report explores the federal approach to funding Indigenous housing and underscores the need for a range of housing options in Indigenous communities, including homeownership.

Based on what it heard, the committee is recommending that the Government of Canada:

• Ensure that all federal policy or legislative proposals related to Indigenous housing be co-developed with Indigenous Peoples.
• Identify and remove restrictive land ownership policies on reserves.
• Review and improve funding mechanisms to provide long-term, stable, flexible and predictable funding for Indigenous housing.
• Review all programs and funding provided for Indigenous housing to identify areas where funds could be delivered directly to Indigenous governments, organizations and communities, and report back to the committee on the results of this review.
• Explore ways to support homeownership tailored to the needs of Indigenous communities.
• Explore the implementation of the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey right to harvest timber on traditional lands for domestic use as ruled by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2006.

The committee wishes to thank the 41 individuals and organizations who participated in this study and all those who submitted written briefs. Parliamentary studies such as this one would not be possible without the invaluable contribution of experts, Indigenous communities, organizations, governments and members of the public.