Well, the present situation is not exactly working for first nations. CMHC and Indigenous Services Canada determine the level of funding and the distribution model that goes to regions and communities. Because they have the vast majority of control over housing programs, at the end of the day we are asked to do whatever we can with the funding we receive.
As every witness, including me, is telling you, the funding has been chronically low and underfunded for years, so it will take a massive investment. However, I think the days of ISC and CMHC telling first nations how, when and under what circumstances we can meet our needs are gone. I think what we're really and truly asking for, especially through the work that's been done by the Assembly of First Nations, is for the government to sit down with us so that we can find solutions. Definitely government funding is a part of it, but there also has to be some give-and-take from conventional financial institutions. I think the private sector has a role to play as well.
You can't find solutions unless you're sitting down and having the conversation. The days of folks at CMHC sitting in their offices at 700 Montreal Road and deciding what's in our best interests are gone. They need to sit down and have those conversations with us.