1. AFN National Update Irving Leblanc, P. Eng
AFN National Update Irving Leblanc, P. Eng., Director Housing, Infrastructure and Emergency Services

2. Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
The AFN is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. The AFN represents all citizens regardless of age, gender or place of residence
First Nation leaders (Chiefs) from coast to coast to coast direct the work of AFN through resolutions passed at Chiefs Assemblies held at least twice a year
Housing and Infrastructure Directorate advocates on behalf of Canada’s First Nations in areas of housing, infrastructure, water, wastewater , emergency issues management, and source water protection

3. Chiefs Committee
The Chiefs Committee on Housing and Infrastructure (CCoHI) provides technical advice and recommendations with respect to AFN’s engagement with Canada on housing and infrastructure related issues
CCoHI has representation from each region, which includes Chiefs and Technicians who are appointed by their respective Regionals Chiefs

4. Current Vision
“All First Nation members living on or away from their community have a right to shelter and they must be provided with an opportunity to access safe, secure, adequate and affordable housing”
Vision must be rooted in community based needs identified at the local community level, culturally relevant and supported by sustainable adequate funding with the same standards as off-reserve
There is a strong desire for the same standards as off-reserve communities

5. 2016 Forum Findings The current housing vision is widely accepted
Any initiative must be First Nations controlled and implemented
Cooperation and collaboration amongst First Nations because we have the solutions
Inclusion, safe, secure, affordable, healthy, quality housing and infrastructure with adequate resources to create a sustainable housing and infrastructure portfolio
Funding and Finance
Long term, flexible, housing and infrastructure funding model developed by and for First Nations
Maximize the leverage of funding and financing, through partnerships, with other governments and First Nations
Access to and implementation of all of the modern financial tools of infrastructure development in First Nations that are available to all other levels of government
We must find a way to encourage individual and family responsibility for housing and infrastructure

6. 2016 Forum Findings Cont’d Skills and Capacity
First Nations control over skills and capacity development aligned with community needs
Committed and significant investment into existing First Nations technical and skills organizations
Central repositories of technical knowledge information made available to all First Nations
Committed and appropriate funding to ensure the attraction and retention of qualified housing and capital managers
Governance and Delivery
Significant and committed investments in local management of housing and infrastructure
First Nations institutions must be stand alone and endowed with all of the necessary authorities and funding to succeed
Transfer payments directly to First Nations
We need national institution that replaces CMHC and INAC in the delivery of Housing and infrastructure
Must get local regional and national politics out of housing and infrastructure development

7. 2016 Forum Recommendations
Develop a First Nations National Housing and Infrastructure Strategy with a combined Vision
Implementation plan and budgets
Gather data
Prioritize areas to carry out further research
Seek funding to carry out research on those areas identified for further study

8. Implementing Resolutions
Resolution 98/2016 supports the development of a First Nations National Housing and Infrastructure Strategy
Resolution 27/2017 supports the establishment of a joint Working Group to develop the Strategy and a Strategic Plan with short, medium and long-term objectives and outcomes
Resolution 27/2017 directs the AFN and Chiefs Committee on Housing and Infrastructure to jointly develop, with the federal government, a Terms of Reference for the establishment of a joint Working Group that will develop a First Nations National Housing and Infrastructure Strategy, which will include housing both on- and off-reserve.
This resolution further directs the AFN and the CCoHI to work in partnership with First Nations and the Government of Canada on the co-development of a strategic plan with short, medium and long-term objectives and outcomes, which will be implemented to contribute to the development of a National First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Strategy.
Resolution 27 also directs the AFN to call upon the Government of Canada that any drafting of legislation, regulations and policy instruments (such as a Memorandum to Cabinet) related to the proposed First Nations National Housing and Infrastructure Strategy be co -developed with the AFN and CCoHI.

9. First Nations National Housing and Infrastructure Strategy
First Nations Care and Control of Housing and Infrastructure is the guiding principle
The end goal is getting INAC and CMHC out of the business
First Nations people must lead the development of a Strategy to ensure the transformative change of housing and infrastructure is envisioned from a First Nations perspective
First Nations need to be involved in all decision making processes, and furthermore, funding needs to be flowed directly to First Nation communities for the care and control of housing and infrastructure
Draft Strategic plan: “measurable” short, medium and long-term objectives, actions and deliverables developed by First Nations

10. First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Working Group
Working Group has been established in accordance to resolution 27/2017
Members include the CCoHI and Regional Housing Technicians, AFN, Indigenous Services (INAC), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Health Canada/FNIHB (HC)
Working Group meetings are well attended and signal a positive step toward establishing a working relationship

11. Memorandum to Cabinet (MC)
CMHC to release National Housing Strategy (Canada) in Fall 2017
CMHC to submit Treasury Board Submission in Fall 2017
CMHC to launch National Housing Strategy Programs in Spring 2018
INAC MC on First Nations National Housing Strategy – Winter 2017
INAC MC Budget 2017 ($4 billion over 10 years)
CMHC is the lead on the development of a comprehensive National Housing Strategy for Canada. (Broader Canadian Strategy). They plan to release this Strategy in the Fall and intend to submit a Treasury Board submission to seek approval to implement this Strategy in the Spring 2018.
INAC is leading the development of a MC related to an Indigenous National Housing Strategy (including First Nations, Inuit and Metis). MC is a government process which allows a Minister to propose, explain and seek Cabinet approval on a proposed initiative. INAC committed to co-drafting the MC with Working Group members who will work towards a joint Policy Framework which will feed into the MC process.
An opportunity to tell and share our story to Cabinet versus the norm where INAC tells their version of the story. Work collaboratively with Government to ensure the story reflects our perspectives and vision for housing and infrastructure reform.
AFN indicated that these are only exploratory discussions and that the Working Group is not a decision making body, and all information will need to be brought back to the CCoHI and the Special Chiefs Assembly for endorsement and approval.
INAC is also putting forward a Budget 2017 MC which is related to the 4 billion over 10 years for housing, water, infrastructure and educational facilities. Which will be based on 4 million per year.

12. MC Co-Development
An opportunity to tell and share our story to Cabinet versus the norm where INAC tells their version of the story
Work collaboratively with Government to ensure the story reflects our perspectives and vision for housing and infrastructure
Working Group working on a DRAFT Policy Framework that will feed into the MC process and become an Annex to the MC

13. DRAFT Policy Framework
Questions developed to seek your input at this forum
Understand the true costs of housing and infrastructure
Strategic research and data gathering exercise
First Nations to decide their own level of governance
Ongoing engagement to develop strategies and frameworks based on community needs and priorities

14. Next Steps
We plan to present the DRAFT Policy Framework as an Annex at upcoming Special Chiefs Assembly for discussion and endorsement
First Nations engagement sessions are required to ensure transition process is First Nations led
Develop a strategic plan with short, medium and long-term objectives
Develop options start the transition process

15. Miigwetch