FSIN Worried About On-Reserve Housing Funds

FSIN Worried About On-Reserve Housing Funds

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 14:56

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations says it wants the federal budget passed.

FSIN vice chief Guy Lonechild is worried that money allocated in the budget for improved on-reserve housing will be lost if the budget doesn’t pass.

Lonechild says he’s received assurances from a couple of Conservative MPs that the Conservatives will honour the funding commitments made in the budget if they force an election and come to power.

But Lonechild says First Nations families need that money now, and can’t afford to wait until after another election.

In February, the government committed $295 million over five years for the construction and renovation of housing units on reserves.

That money would pave the way for the construction of 6,400 new on-reserve homes across the country. and the renovation of 1,500 more.

Lonechild also notes that on top of that funding, the Liberals agreed to provide an additional $1.6 billon for affordable housing in the recent deal they made with the NDP — money that Lonechild is confident will end up helping a lot of Aboriginal families, both on reserves and in urban settings.