Government of Canada and Métis National Council sign Métis National Housing Accord
Posted on: Jul 24, 2018
MNA representatives including Provincial Council members Dan Cardinal (far left), Marlene Lanz (second left), President Audrey Poitras (second right), and Karen Collins (far right) stand with Minister of Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett after the Canada-MNC Métis Nation Housing Accord signing.
Saskatoon, SK. (July 19, 2018) President Audrey Poitras and the other Presidents of the Métis National Council, along with the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, signed the Métis National Housing Accord.
The Accord outlines the Government of Canada’s commitment of $500 million, over ten years, to support the implementation of a Métis Nation Housing Strategy. The Accord has six key elements of note:
- Develop a model, that can be adopted locally, using a multi-stakeholder approach to address the housing needs of the Métis Nation across the housing continuum. (Stakeholders include CMHC, Provincial housing corporations, Métis housing corporations, municipal housing authorities, developers, and not-for-profits);
- Utilize existing infrastructure of stakeholders, in particular Métis housing corporations, to deliver new or enhanced programs to supply Métis housing;
- Extend current housing subsidy programs being delivered by Métis housing corporations;
- Increase the number of affordable and subsidized housing units available specifically to Métis Nation families and citizens;
- Focus on reduction of the core housing need gap existing between Métis Nation citizens and non-Indigenous Canadians by preserving and improving the existing social housing stock; and
- Focus on homeownership as lowest cost approach to housing by exploring a variety of financial instruments such as a Métis Homeownership Fund backed by federal loan guarantees to support lower income Métis
- homeowners.
The Métis Nation of Alberta is very excited to strengthen its capacity to continue offering affordable housing programs and increasing its inventory of available units. This work will also include renovating, repairing, and rehabilitating its existing affordable housing options.
Quick Facts:
- – The Métis Nation Housing Accord is the second sub-agreement signed under the Canada-Métis Nation Accord, signed in April 2017, working towards a renewed relationship with the Métis Nation.
- – In June 2018, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Patricia Hajdu and the Métis Nation leadership signed the Métis Nation Skills and Employment Accord. The Skills and Employment Accord provides a framework for working together to implement the new Métis National Labour Market Strategy. The strategy focuses on enhanced employment services, skills development, and job training to improve the overall well-being of Métis Nation.
- – The Métis Nation Skills and Employment Accord represents the Government of Canada’s commitment of more than $625 million over 10 years for the Métis Nation stream of the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training program in the 2018 budget. The program replaces the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy.
Quote:
“The signing of the Housing Accord highlights Canada’s commitment and recognition of the Metis Nation’s self-determination. Through this accord Canada is helping our Housing Programs, like Métis Urban Housing Corporation and Métis Capital Housing Corporation, provide affordable and culturally-appropriate, sustainable solutions for our citizens.”
- Audrey Poitras, President of the Métis Nation of Alberta