Cash secured for social housing
Three levels of government partner on new project
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 2, 2017
INUVIK
The federal government is providing the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation with $15 million over two years to build public housing units in the area, including a six-plex in Inuvik and a four-plex in Tuktoyaktuk.
Mohan Denetto, NWT Regional Director General at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, speaks about the federal government's commitment to Inuit-Crown relationships Friday, Feb. 24. To his right are Caroline Cochrane, minister of NWT Housing Corporation, and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation CEO Duane Smith. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
|
Three levels of government came together last week to make the announcement.
"The Government of the Northwest Territories takes the housing needs and the needs of the residents of the Northwest Territories very seriously," said Caroline Cochrane, minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation and homelessness Feb. 24.
"Housing is a major component to address the cost of living, which is one of our mandates this year."
She was speaking at a signing ceremony between the GNWT, the federal government and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC).
Using funding provided under the 2016 federal budget, the IRC will construct affordable social housing units on lots owned by the housing corporation and turn over the units to the corporation upon completion.
The new units will replace aging social housing units.
The six-plex in Inuvik and four-plex in Tuktoyaktuk are proposed 2016-17 projects, while planning for 2017-18 projects is still underway.
Additionally, Nappaq, the Inuvialuit-owned company contracted to construct the new units, will use local tradespeople as well as those in other Inuvialuit Settlement Region communities.
Cochrane said the GNWT advocates for working partnerships as much as possible with aboriginal governments.
"That is the future," she said. "We believe in lands claims. We believe in self-government, so we're trying to work toward that."
Inclusion of the GNWT in the deal was at IRC's request, said Cochrane.
The partnership didn't have to happen, she said, noting money was given directly from the federal government to the IRC.
"The most important thing is we will have housing units for ... residents to actually live in and it's really exciting," she said. "The partnership that we're here to form today . hopefully will be the beginning of a long-term partnership."
Mohan Denetto, NWT regional director general at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, said that the federal government recognizes that investment is needed to address the "serious housing needs across Inuit Nunangat."
Budget 2017, he said, provided $156.7 million for Inuit housing, including the $15 million over two fiscal years for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
"These funds are being provided directly to the IRC to honour the Inuit-Crown relationship and advance reconciliation between the Government of Canada and Inuit," said Denetto.
"We believe the agreement will ensure the federal funds will be used in a way that will provide maximum benefit for all parties. It is also a great example of what can be accomplished when different levels of government work in partnership to address a shared priority."
Inuvialuit Regional Corporation CEO Duane Smith said any opportunity for land-claim organizations to obtain additional assets benefits the territory as a whole, and in this case helps alleviate pressures on housing.
"We'll continue to push for further enhancements and infrastructure," he said.
