Since the treaties were signed, health care was given to the first nations. They are 100% covered, and the Métis nation has never had that. The Daniels case that was put through the courts in 2016 said that Canada has the obligation for all Métis around Canada. We need that Daniels case implemented, so that the policy states that the Métis will be 100% covered. It affects our health, our way of living and our cost of living.
I want to focus on the housing, as well, including the opportunities that come when you have housing. If you have housing, you have that responsibility to sustain your house. It's going to make you live healthy, get you off the drugs and get you off the alcohol. It's going to get you out working and get you into the economy, so that you can buy yourself a truck or skidoo, and support a family of three or five, whatever it may be. Because of the lack of housing and the overcrowding, people are living a certain way. It's an unhealthy way of life in our communities. It's very noticeable.
It's very important for us to settle these land claims. As it was mentioned, we don't have access to the lands. We talk about early land transfer opportunities. Since we're not settling our claim right now, there should be good faith negotiations on behalf of the governments to give us early land transfer so we can access that land and, as I said, give it to our members so that they can develop a house on that land.
There's also going to be a problem with borrowing money. We may have people who work and stuff, but it's going to take a bit more than us giving them 5% down because the banks always want to know how you got that money. We want to be able to have more of a guarantee, so that the bank doesn't focus on them. The cost of living in the Northwest Territories.... The average monthly rent is $2,200, which is a mortgage, but it doesn't go to your credit rating. Maybe after five years or something it might, but you're still expected to save that money.
On the health benefits, I definitely need them to recognize that policy from the Daniels court case to start implementing the programs and services on an equitable basis to first nations, which is what that court case was all about. It includes more than just health. It's health, education, housing and everything else.