Thank you very much, MP Battiste, and thank you for being with me when we announced the beginning of the consultation process for the second-generation cut-off.
For members who are unaware of this issue, this is something deeply personal for many indigenous people who, for one reason or another, have lost status, and therefore their children lose status. Those consultations are being designed with indigenous people, so they are of the utmost sensitivity, and there are a lot of opinions. There are people who feel very strongly that we need to move quickly on the second-generation cut-off. I think some communities have other perspectives. They have seen people return to the community and they wonder how they're going to absorb new members, for a whole host of reasons.
Those consultations are going to be very important, I think, in order to hear all sides and come up with a path that keeps people very comfortable with the direction.
You're right. The ongoing gender discrimination in the Indian Act is something we've been working to fix since 2015. Bill C-38 is now working its way through the House, as I understand it. We'll have debate, I believe, later this week on Bill C-38. I look forward to all members supporting that legislation and not delaying it, because families are waiting for answers.
Thank you for bringing that up.
On indigenous-led housing, I will note an article recently out of Nova Scotia. Membertou First Nation is building a record number of new homes, but all of its local contractors are too busy for more. I think a very important acknowledgement is that it's not only money that is the limiting factor for building more houses: I spoke about ice roads and the delay and interruption in getting materials to first nations communities. Skilled tradespeople shortages and a number of other things can delay infrastructure development in communities.
Sometimes it can even be related to climate change. If a community is evacuated in the middle of infrastructure season, it can upend the entire season. Communities will lose a season and the progress they've made. It can be very expensive when communities lose that progress because, of course, a half-built housing complex left to the elements means the build, in many cases, can't be salvaged.
I know we have a long way to go, but I will say that under this approach, we are looking at much faster progress.
I want to turn to Nelson to talk about how we supported even quantifying the gap.