Jenny Kwan, Vancouver East Member of Parliament & NDP Housing Critic, speaks at June 8 2023 Press Conference in Ottawa announcing federal funding for NICHI (National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated) for For Indigenous By Indigenous urban, rural and Northern housing.
The NDP has long been calling for substantive investments to develop a permanent, sustainable, and long-term for Indigenous by Indigenous Urban, Rural, and Northern Housing Strategy to address the urgent housing crisis experienced by Indigenous peoples.
As a result of the NDP’s demands as part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement, budget 2022 saw an investment of $4 billion over 7 years for distinctions based funding and $300 million towards a for Indigenous by Indigenous Urban Rural and Northern housing strategy (FIBI URN). Budget 2023 had an additional $4 billion over 7 years for FIBI URN.
Today’s announcement is a step towards addressing the urgent housing crisis in Indigenous communities. The NDP will continue to press the government to ensure this money flows to communities expeditiously to address urgent need and that it is truly an Indigenous-led process.
Also present are MP Lori Idlout, NDP Critic for Crown-Indigenous Relations, Northern Affairs and Indigenous Services; Jeff Loucks, Chief Executive Officer, of the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI) as well as Gary Wilson, NICHI Vice Chair, and Robert Byers, NICHI Secretary; Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu; Minister of Housing Ahmed Hussen; Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal.
