Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you very much to the committee for having me back yet again. I think it's my third time in the last few weeks, and it's a joy to be with you here on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe.
I am hoping that, the next time I come back, we will be talking about the clean water act. The first nations clean water act is a very important piece of legislation that this committee will have the privilege of studying, and the AFN and other parties have been very clear. They're asking all parties to move quickly to get the bill to committee so that we can listen to witnesses. I hope that we will not see continued blockage of this bill by any party, because this is a deeply important piece of legislation to many first nations across the country.
That said, let's talk about the Auditor General's report, which shows how important it is to partner with first nations.
This is not a new problem. It's a problem that far too many indigenous people have experienced their entire lives. It is the result of decades of colonialism and oppression, and proves an important point: Racism is costly.
Today, the bill for the infrastructure deficit is $350 billion. Let's be clear: Progress is being made, but the problem won't be resolved overnight. It's going to take an effort on the part of all levels of government, organizations and private companies.
We have to do away with the archaic, one-size-fits-all systems that are often in place. They are not only deeply insulting to first nations, but they simply don't work. We all remember the paternalistic $300-million fund that the Leader of the Opposition oversaw when he was minister. That program did not work, either. It got exactly 99 homes built on reserve for $300 million.
This is why first nations' housing solutions must be developed by or co-developed with first nations themselves and they must be flexible so they can meet the specific needs of each community.
That's what the national first nations housing and related infrastructure strategy is all about. It was co-developed with the AFN, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and first nations across Canada. It's a clear contrast with the paternalistic approach. It will get us closer to a Canada where first nations also have a safe place to rest, to raise their children and to reach their full potential.
Recently, I was in Lytton First Nation. They're making giant steps in rebuilding after a devastating wildfire. With new funding, 20 homes are being fast-tracked and they plan to build over 175 homes over the next decade. This is no coincidence. Indeed, since we took office in 2015, Liberals increased targeted funding and housing by 1,100% and budget 2024 adds another $1 billion.
Equally important, the tools that we're developing together with first nations people are restoring control of housing back to communities. We've supported the First Nations Housing Professionals Association to train people on project management, construction planning, tenant relations and renovation coordination. They've certified 48 housing professionals. They have an additional 151 people in training and this is to build housing capacity in first nations communities across the country.
I saw that in action in Lytton. In fact, they said the speed at which they've been able to develop the division and get the infrastructure in place so the housing could be put into place for families who lost their homes in that devastating wildfire was because of internal capacity within the community.
The difference between the Liberal approach and the Conservative attitude is clear. Conservatives are stuck in paternalistic thinking, combined with a spin of austerity.
On our end, we focus on closing the gap through partnership and mutual respect. It's the right thing to do in the spirit of reconciliation, but it's also the only approach that works. It's the only way that we can ensure a fairer future and a fairer Canada for indigenous peoples.
Meegwetch. Thank you.