Strahl Defends Reserve Housing Funding
Friday, August 14, 2009 at 15:09
Federal Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl admits the federal housing stimulus program won’t solve the housing shortage on Saskatchewan reserves.
Saskatchewan only qualifies for $60 million of the $400 million program.
According to FSIN Vice Chief Delbert Wapass, only 37 bands in Saskatchewan will qualify for $23.3 million from the initiative because of a lack of dollars and some eligibility requirements.
Strahl says the program was never meant to solve the entire housing shortage on reserves — but he says it’s a beginning.
He also says there is hope for First Nations who didn’t qualify for this year’s federal housing stimulus program, because there are plans to provide money for more housing in upcoming budgets.
Strahl says his government inherited a huge housing shortage for Aboriginal people across the country when it took office.
He says they’ve been trying to whittle that problem down each year and they plan to continue doing that.
Strahl also says some bands in third party management can still get housing dollars.
But he says that doesn’t apply to every band in third party management, because each case is different.
Third party management bands are First Nations that are being managed by a third party, due to earlier financial issues.
The federal government’s $400 million housing stimulus package has been criticized by some because it includes loans that have to be paid back.
About $250 million of that money is for loans from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
But Strahl is telling bands to get used to it.
Strahl says federal housing programs have always included loans for those who can afford them, and that’s not going to change.
He says some Aboriginal people want to get loans because they have good jobs, and can afford to do so.
Strahl made the statements yesterday at the Onion Lake Cree Nation, where he participated in closing ceremonies for the Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games.