HEADLINE SAYS: "Province opens the door to housing investment on reserves"

HEADLINE SAYS:  "Province opens the door to housing investment on reserves".  And with that came news that British Columbia would be the first province in Canada to, "invest provincial housing funds into on-reserve housing."

 

BUT HOLD ON A MINUTE, isn't providing funding for safe and affordable on-reserve First Nations housing a Federal responsibility?  Yes it is.  And it is provided for already.  A government website, for Indigenous Service Canada, under the heading of First Nations Housing, states:

"Budget 2017 and Budget 2018 propose dedicated funding of $600 million over three years to support First Nation housing on reserve as part of a Housing Strategy that is being developed with First Nations.

Budget 2016 provided $416.6 million over two years, through the former Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (now Indigenous Services Canada), to improve on-reserve housing conditions, reduce overcrowding and increase health and safety. This was in addition to about $143 million annually provided by the department to First Nations to support a range of housing needs."

Further, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada goes on to state that (after providing the funding), "Providing and managing housing on-reserve is the responsibility of First Nations."

NOT ALL First Nations communities have chosen to opt-in to the housing program, however those that have, can use the funding for a variety of needs including:

• construction
• lot servicing
• renovation
• maintenance
• insurance
• debt servicing
• planning and managing their housing portfolio
• mould remediation

Other Government of Canada departments, also have programs available to support housing on-reserve. 

With news from the government yesterday, of this new housing program, Terry Teegee, Regional Chief, of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations was quoted as saying:
“We have never seen such a commitment from a provincial government for on-reserve housing investments. I applaud the leadership of Premier Horgan and his ministers. Housing is a fundamental human right, and impacts a wide range of societal needs, including security, health for families and employment. First Nations in B.C. seek to improve a major gap in housing needs. This is an important step for building stronger First Nations’ communities.”

Of course they have never seen such an initiative.  That's because it is NOT a provincial responsibility.  The federal government has primary jurisdiction over, and financial responsibility for, all of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples.

Does that mean I do not believe that First Nations people deserve to have safe and affordable housing?  Of course not!  As Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs states ... security of body and health, safety, and family all rate as one of the most basic of needs.  Necessities in fact I would say, as they are part of the foundation for our well-being.  In other words, safe and affordable housing definitely fits the bill.

That said, there are clearly defined roles of responsibility that are set out in the Canadian Constitution, and that have been agreed to.  The BC NDP government of John Horgan has decided, however, to muddy the waters further in an area only just recently getting muddied.

Through the new Building BC Indigenous Housing Fund, the BC government has committed itself to supply an additional $550 million over the next 10 years to build and operate 1,750 new units of social housing for projects, both on- and off-reserve -- above and beyond funding already committed by the federal government.

At the risk of being declared a racist, let me be clear in stating, "First Nations housing is undeniably a responsibility of the federal government -- it is not a provincial responsibility"

I urge Premier John Horgan to reverse this announcement, and to fully apologize to the First Nations community of BC for making an announcement such as was done.

THEN, as he (and many others) obviously believe this are of housing is not being adequately provided for, he should initiate a meeting with the federal government to discuss the problem, and find a solution.

In Kamloops, I'm Alan Forseth.  Please feel free to express your thoughts in the Comment section below.