Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We often talk about truth and reconciliation.
When it comes to matters of truth, what I see when I read the Auditor General’s report is that Indigenous Services Canada recognizes First Nations housing needs and, according to the Assembly of First Nations’ numbers, there is a $44 billion shortfall. That’s the amount needed to build 55,320 new housing units to counter overpopulation, build 78,000 new housing units for people returning to communities, repair over 80,000 existing housing units and make 112,000 new plots viable. So, there’s the truth.
Then, in order to have reconciliation, at the very least, there obviously has to be a dialogue.
Chief Haymond, currently, what is the state of the dialogue with the federal government on housing issues?