Madam Speaker, Chief Shining Turtle has indicated that there is a great need to have CMHC's section 95 program funding for home construction increased to adjust for the inflation in building costs and materials. For example, the band receives about $148,000 in CMHC subsidies to build a house, but with housing costs running at $400 per square foot, a 1,000-square-foot home would cost over $400,000. The band is not able to assume that kind of financial burden, yet CMHC representatives fail to provide a workable solution. Chief Shining Turtle is calling for a bold strategy, not just tinkering around the edges.
Does the member agree that the federal contributions need to match today's cost of construction in the minimum?