$5.3-million for Musqueam First Nation social housing

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Musqueam First Nation
http://www.musqueam.bc.ca/Default.htm
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Canada's Economic Action Plan helps to improve on-reserve social housing in B.C.

VANCOUVER, BC

July 15, 2009 - The Government of Canada announced today a
$5.3-million investment, as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, for the
Musqueam First Nation to build 31 social housing units to improve living
conditions for the Musqueam community.

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and
Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Gateway and British Columbia, on
behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation (CMHC), participated in the official ground-breaking ceremony
along with members of the Musqueam community to celebrate the first on-reserve
funding commitment to be announced. This new development will provide
on-reserve housing for young families, seniors and persons with disabilities
in the Musqueam community.

"Our Government recognizes that on-reserve housing must be improved,"
said Minister Day. "Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, Musqueam First
Nation will be able to help its community create new opportunities and
alleviate some of the pressing housing needs of the residents who live here."

Canada's Economic Action Plan provides $400 million over the next two
years, to help First Nation communities build needed new housing and repair
and remediate existing non-profit housing for their members. It will also
provide an economic stimulus for many First Nations and surrounding areas by
creating jobs.

"This new and exciting housing project comes at a time when both the
Musqueam leadership and Musqueam members have identified our housing needs as
the number one priority in our community. Through this project, our people,
long on housing waiting lists, will have an opportunity to raise their
families in safe and healthy homes," said Chief Ernest Campbell of Musqueam
First Nation. "We believe this opportunity will be an important step in
building a happy and healthy community."

More information on this and other measures in Canada's Economic Action
Plan, a plan to stimulate the economy and protect those hit hardest by the
global recession, can be found at: http://www.actionplan.gc.ca

Visit CMHC's website at: http://www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan or by phone at
1-800-668-2642, for more information about this and other housing-related
measures in Canada's Economic Action Plan.

INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE ON-RESERVE
SOCIAL HOUSING

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting First Nations through
targeted investments to build and renovate housing. Today's announcement is
the latest in a series of commitments by the federal government to improve
housing conditions in First Nations communities.
In 2007, the Government invested $300 million in the First Nations Market
Housing Fund, which encourages market-based housing on-reserve and could
create 25,000 new housing units over the next decade.
These commitments are in addition to the federal government's annual
investment, through Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indian and
Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), of approximately $270 million for on-reserve
housing needs, and INAC's investment of approximately $118 million annually
for First Nations on-reserve in the form of shelter allowance payments under
the Income Assistance Program.
In Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada provides $400
million over the next two years to support on-reserve housing. Of the $400
million committed, $250 million will be delivered through CMHC over two years
for the creation of new on-reserve housing ($125 million) and repair and
renovation of existing federally-assisted on-reserve social housing ($125
million). The remaining $150 million will be delivered by Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada (INAC) for lot servicing, renovations, new construction of
high-density multi-unit dwellings, and renovations to support the conversion
of band-owned housing to private ownership.
The federal government, through CMHC and INAC, is working with First
Nations to move forward with this important initiative.

For further information: Michelle Bakos, Office of the Honourable Diane
Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, (819)
994-2482; Mélisa Leclerc, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister
of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Minister
responsible for British Colombia, (613) 992-6186; Kristen Scheel, CMHC Media
Relations, (613) 748-2799; Johnna Sparrow, Musqueam First Nation, (778)
898-1226

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"We are building for the future."

News and Comment
by Tehaliwaskenhas - Bob Kennedy ( Onyota'a:ka / Oneida )
Copyright
Turtle Island Native Network
http://www.turtleisland.org

July 16th, 2009

Community expansion was celebrated by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, including the historic reclamation (this was their land before the 'newcomers' arrived) of 86.4 hectares of land from Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

The First Nation gains a new subdivision, called Ty Histaniis (Nuu-chah-nulth for a place to anchor whales).

The $26.9-million federally funded project (Indian Affairs) includes 160 homes, specialized Elders' accommodations, a fire and rescue station, a utilities building, a geothermal pump station, and governance, health and recreation centres.


Clean Energy Technology

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations new housing and community buildings will have geothermal energy. The $3-million geothermal project will provide heat and hot water in buildings constructed under the Ty Histaniis Reclamation Project.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations Chief Councillor Francis Frank stated, "At Ty Histaniis, we are building for the future. Today we are taking action to address housing and social challenges that have held back our community for too long."

Situated on west coast of Vancouver Island, Ty Histaniis has been an important location for the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations for thousands of years.
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Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations . . .
http://www.tla-o-qui-aht.org/