Thank you, Chair.
Kwe Kwe. Tansi. Unnusakkut. Good afternoon.
I want to acknowledge that I am on the traditional territory of the Algonquin people here today and coming to you from Ottawa. It's nice to see you in person again.
Thanks for this invitation on such an important issue.
Indigenous peoples in Canada face the worst housing outcomes in the country, as Minister Hajdu described.
We know that overcrowded, inadequate and expensive housing remains a key factor in the persistent physical health, mental health, and other social and economic challenges faced by indigenous communities.
In Inuit Nunangat alone, close to 52% of Inuit live in overcrowded homes. Tuberculosis and, more recently COVID‑19, are prominent among the impacts this may have on health.
The situation is unacceptable. We know that we have to work harder and quicker to close the gap and to support the partners in their work, so that we can be sure that everyone has access to a secure and healthy home.
For Inuit housing needs, we are working with, notably, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit lands claims organizations and other federal departments to implement the codeveloped Inuit Nunangat housing strategy. The strategy sets out important joint work to address Inuit housing needs, and it is rooted in an approach to self-determination where Inuit play a direct role in the delivery of housing in Inuit Nunangat.
To support its implementation, we have committed $13.2 billion through, in particular, the national housing coinvestment fund.
Since 2016, we have committed $490 million over 12 years to support Inuit-led housing in Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and the Inuvialuit Region. Along with repairs to many existing units, these investments will result in close to 500 new units being constructed in these regions by the end of 2022. In budget 2021, we have invested $517.8 million in Inuit land claim organizations in order to support infrastructures in Inuit Nunangat.
In Nunavut specifically, we have already invested $331 million to help 2,962 households access safe and secure housing. We have also provided $25 million to the Government of Nunavut to support their immediate housing and infrastructure needs, as well as $10 million to create an estimated 24 new affordable homes in Nunavut since 2016.
As well, we established an intergovernmental task force to respond to the critical housing and infrastructure needs in Nunavut. We also continue to play an active role through codevelopment and implementation of other distinctions-based approaches to housing and infrastructure, including the Métis nation housing strategy, through the work at modern treaty and self-governing first nations tables as well.
To support Métis nation housing infrastructure, we committed, in budget 2018, $500 million over 10 years. With this funding, Métis partners built or bought 1,158 housing units, repaired or renovated 2,096 housing units, and provided annual rental supports and subsidies, importantly, for 7,584 housing units.
Since 2016, we have also committed $18 million for northern first nation and Métis communities in the Northwest Territories, as well as an additional $25 million for the Northwest Territories to support their immediate housing and infrastructure needs. We have also established a dedicated intergovernmental task force to respond to the critical housing and infrastructure needs in the Northwest Territories.
In Yukon, housing and infrastructure needs are determined by each self-governing Yukon first nation. Their efforts have resulted notably in the building of 90 units and 13 new developed lots, a water main project and energy efficiency upgrades to existing housing and community-based infrastructure.
We will continue to work with indigenous partners on the best ways to address the problem and we are directly supporting indigenous-led approaches in our desire to develop our policies jointly.
I thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee today to discuss this important work. I look forward to taking your questions.
Meegwetch. Nakummek. Marci. Thank you. Merci.