Can you confirm the translation's working?
I'm getting a thumbs-up, so I'll continue.
We took a step in a new direction a number of years ago, not only with a significant increase in funding, as Minister Hajdu described, but also by more and more ensuring that we are empowering indigenous communities and indigenous leaders to take decisions about the investments that will support indigenous communities.
I see Mr. Battiste from Nova Scotia here. This approach in other areas has delivered immense dividends. I'm thinking of the education reforms that were put in place a number of years ago in Nova Scotia that dramatically increased graduation rates when decision-making power over the education system was put in the hands of indigenous communities.
We aim to do more of that with the distinctions-based approach that we've taken toward new funding with $4 billion behind it to build out more housing in communities. With the approach to urban, rural and northern communities, it's going to, again, work with distinctions-based organizations but also with an indigenous-led centre that will help make decisions about where the funding goes.
It's not enough to just change the process. You actually have to back these programs up with serious money.
As Minister Hajdu indicated, we've seen a 1,100% increase in the total funding going to initiatives specifically for indigenous housing. This also comes through programs that may involve bilateral agreements with other levels of government that make investments directly in communities. It would include affordable housing initiatives through the affordable housing fund or the rapid housing initiative. About 40% of the investments have gone to support indigenous housing initiatives. We've seen significant uptake of the housing accelerator fund with partners that lead indigenous communities.
These investments are starting to make a difference, but I'm not here to tell you that the problem has been solved. I'm here to tell you that we need to continue to do more. With consistent and predictable investments, we'll be able to create an ecosystem where we are doing a better job of meeting the demands that dramatically and disproportionately impact indigenous communities. We have more work to do to ensure that we not only meet the housing needs but also create opportunities for indigenous communities to realize the economic benefits by actually delivering on those housing needs.
I think of the conversations I had in Iqaluit when I was visiting MP Idlout in her community where we heard loud and clear that, despite the fact that there are significant investments going to Canada's north for housing as compared to years past, many of the economic benefits go to the companies that provide goods and services from the south. We have continuous learning opportunities. However, we have to take our lead from those who are most impacted. I'm looking forward, in the months and years ahead, to increasing the pace of delivery and the understanding of how the federal government can support indigenous communities in meeting the housing needs to bring to an end the housing crisis that they have been living through for far too many years.
Thank you. It's a pleasure to be with you.