I suppose they're connected in the sense that, in order for first nations to be able to access own-source revenues that they can use and leverage from the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, you have to open the door to economic development. So you have to unshackle first nations from the Indian Act. You have to encourage them in all kinds of business ventures, and that involves access to capital.
This is circular because, regarding access to capital, the most common, universal complaint among indigenous entrepreneurs and small business owners is the fact that, under the Indian Act, land ownership restrictions prevent them from accessing loans. It's the same thing with the housing. They can't use their own house, their own yard, as collateral.
I think that all of these issues with accelerating economic development and housing are connected. I would recommend that the committee look at reintroducing a first nation property ownership act, which the finance committee under the previous Harper government talked about and never introduced, as a way to provide a means for willing first nations to join that regime so that land title can be transferred voluntarily to first nations. Those first nations in turn, if they choose, can transfer that title to individuals to allow them to hold mortgages, build up credit and build up equity in their own homes. That would unshackle indigenous entrepreneurs.