Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Colleagues, I am pleased to be here to discuss the important issue of housing for indigenous and northern communities. This issue is important not only for the government, but also for the entire country.
I want to say thanks so much for having me.
It's clear that Canada's experiencing a housing crisis and that crisis is felt disproportionately by indigenous communities across Canada. When I hear about the challenges and when I speak with those who are most impacted, they tell me stories of overcrowding in their communities and of risks to health that can manifest as a result of that overcrowding. They tell me about a seeming lack of understanding of those of us who come from the south about the challenges when it comes to the actual process of building in Canada's north.
We see a disproportionate representation of indigenous peoples amongst homeless Canadians.
It's essential that we acknowledge where we are if we're going to get where we want to be.
We've seen over the course of Canada's history a lack of investment that would be necessary to actually close the gap when it comes to the housing needs amongst indigenous peoples in this country and everyone else. The housing crisis, over the course of the past year or so, has really captured the attention of Canadians, but I think there's still insufficient light being shone upon the extraordinary needs of indigenous communities across Canada.
We've taken a step in a new direction—