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SPEAKING NOTES for the Honourable Jim Prentice Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians at the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations/ Saskatoon Tribal Council Housing Conference Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

May 24, 2007

Good morning/afternoon Elders, Chiefs, ladies and gentlemen. I’m grateful for this opportunity to talk to you today.

The subject of your conference speaks to a crucial need in First Nation communities. We all agree that safe, affordable, appropriate housing is a basic human requirement, and one of the contributing factors to sound, healthy communities. It is a key element in such quality of life issues as good health, positive educational outcomes, and stable family environments. But unfortunately we can also agree that there are many challenges around housing in First Nations communities that need to be addressed.

I appreciate the work of gatherings such as this one -- gatherings that bring together thoughtful, experienced and dedicated individuals to discuss ways and means to meet these various housing challenges and to devise sustainable solutions.

I want to commend you all on the work you are doing here, and to assure you that Canada’s New Government is eager to work with all partners to implement solutions to these challenges.

I strongly believe that it is essential that we work together to come up with new, innovative, and long term solutions to address housing challenges on reserve. There is no question as to the extent and degree of the housing issues that must be dealt with – we must modernize social housing and renovate existing stock, and it is also vital that we look to the future, and that we use housing as a means for First Nations to build equity and generate wealth.

To that end on April 20th of this year, I was very pleased to announce, along with my Cabinet colleague responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Minister Solberg, the First Nations Market Housing Fund. Fulfilling a Budget 2007 commitment of $300 million, this fund will allow First Nations people living on reserve to build equity in their homes, while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the reserve land base.

We are proud of this fund. We feel it represents a fundamental shift in how Canada’s New Government supports housing on reserve, and is an example of the type of innovative thinking we will need to bring about a long term and sustainable solution to housing issues.

By facilitating access to private sector financing, the First Nations Market Housing Fund will help increase housing production. It will also expand the range of housing options for First Nations families to include home ownership and market rental housing.

The great thing about the First Nations Housing Market Fund is that it builds on the best practices of First Nations themselves. This is an approach that is already being successfully implemented by First Nations communities across Canada, including the Lac La Ronge Band, right here in Saskatchewan.

Perhaps you know the Lac La Ronge story, but I think it bears repeating here because it is a great example of a First Nation thinking proactively, grasping an opportunity, and successfully meeting a real challenge in the community.

In 2004, after much research to determine the best approach to addressing the housing issues in the community, the Band launched its own home-ownership strategy. Lac La Ronge Band worked with private sector organizations such as the Bank of Montreal, as well as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, to secure funding for mortgages in the community, thereby enabling residents to own their own homes.

This program is a great model that holds great potential for success. Band members have not only applied for funds to renovate their homes, but some have applied to build new homes as well. Some families who had left are moving back to the reserve, and Band revenues have increased — that money is going back into housing and other programs.

Consider also Whitecap Dakota First Nation. As part of its long-term economic development strategy, this First Nation is developing a residential/condominium project based on individual home ownership.

My department has supported this plan through a $2.1 million community economic infrastructure investment. We are also supporting the development of a rural subdivision for future home ownership expansion at Whitecap Dakota, with an $800,000 commitment this fiscal year.

It is essential that we learn from the example set by Whitecap Dakota, Lac La Ronge, and other innovative First Nations. You don’t need me to tell you that housing is a real and immediate issue in First Nation communities. We must absolutely address problems with existing stock, but we must also all work together to implement solutions that will effect sustainable, long term change.

Communities such as Lac La Ronge and Whitecap Dakota have shown us that the approach offered by the First Nations Market Housing Fund is a means to achieve this change. But I encourage you to work with us, with each other, and with all partners to continue to find ways to achieve a better quality of life for First Nations.

Together we are making progress – we must continue down this road.

Thank you.