Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Ottawa (Nov 19/01) - The federal, provincial and territorial governments need to spend $1.3 billion to ensure every Inuk has a decent place to live, according to the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada.

Who needs what The Inuit Tapirisat of Canada says 8,800 new housing units need to be built over the next five years to adequately house Inuit. Here is a breakdown of where ITC says the houses should go. - Nunavut 5,500 homes - Nunavik 1,050 homes - Inuvialuit Region 250 homes - Labrador 1,000 homes - Additional 1,000 homes

Canada's national Inuit organization released a report outlining housing needs for Inuit earlier this month. It paints a bleak picture of a housing crisis facing Inuit everywhere.

"Despite the best intentions of a number of stakeholders, the simple, stark reality is that Inuit remain ... the most poorly housed people in the country," says the report.

Roy Wilson, ITC's lead researcher on the project, said Inuit need 8,800 new housing units. More than half of the total are needed in Nunavut.

He added that such housing won't come cheaply. While an average single-family home can be built for $75,000 in the South, the same home in the North would cost twice as much.

"The costs of construction, labour and shipping are much higher," Wilson pointed out.

The Tapirisat wants the federal, provincial, and territorial governments with Inuit in their jurisdiction to pay for the housing, preferably in partnership with Inuit-owned construction companies.

"Nobody can afford to ignore this issue," said ITC president Jose Kusugak.

"If we are successful, there are a number of people who could get a good chunk of their (journeyperson) construction ticket," added Wilson.