Thank you.
It's a real pleasure for me to join my Cabinet colleague, Minister Solberg, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland regional chief Rick Simon, and all of you to celebrate the start of the First Nations Market Housing Fund.
Most families can remember the day - after working, saving and dreaming - that they became the owners of a home.
Today, we're taking an important step by providing the opportunity for First Nations families on-reserve to share in the dream of owning their own home. It's taken a lot of hard work, cooperation and creativity here today, and I want to thank everyone involved.
First Nations organizations have provided their experience and their unique perspective so that we can address the particular needs of people living on-reserve.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has shown the flexibility to manage this initiative so that people can build home equity, while at the same time respecting the tradition of communal ownership of reserve and settlement land.
I especially want to thank Grand Chief John Beaucage for stepping forward to lead the fund's Board of Trustees, and all of the members of the Board for the important role they are undertaking.
Today, with a young and growing First Nations population, the demand for housing is stronger than ever. There's a greater need for financing solutions that are simple, fast and tailored to the needs of local communities.
For the first time ever, with access to home financing on-reserve, people can exercise more choice. That means more housing variety and properties that are better maintained.
We know this approach works. There are communities where home financing pilot projects have produced real results. We've seen housing backlogs go down and housing quality improve. We've seen families who have left the reserve moving back because they now have the opportunity to build equity and be part of the growth and renewal of their community. And we've seen construction firms and employment opportunities appear on reserve as people build new homes and add onto existing ones.
The First Nations Market Housing Fund will spread these benefits to more communities across Canada, so that over the next ten years, it's expected to help build 25,000 new homes.
As we move into the implementation phase of this initiative, we have to continue building on - and strengthening - the partnerships that created this innovative program.
Together, government and First Nations can play a role in making sure the First Nations Market Housing Fund exists in every part of Canada ... reaching families who want access to the many benefits that flow from home ownership.
This is just one of the initiatives this government has undertaken with its partners to improve the quality of life of Aboriginal people. I'd like to just quickly touch on a few, of the many others:
- Our government recently introduced important new measures to improve drinking water on reserve.
- We've introduced matrimonial real property legislation so that women and children have rights in this area if a relationship goes bad.
- We're pushing ahead with legislation so that First Nations on reserve are finally protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act.
- Last year, our government and the AFN announced the Specific Claims Action Plan, which will ensure impartiality and fairness in the specific claims process, with faster processing and better access to mediation.
- We're also moving ahead with the Indian Residential Schools Settlement, because it's the right thing to do - to put this sad legacy behind us. In the last Speech from the Throne the Prime Minister committed to a formal apology to former residential schools students, and I am looking forward to this historic event.
The First Nations Market Housing Fund will remove barriers to home financing so that people can feel their hard work is paying off. They will also be able to look to the future with confidence. I really believe that the most effective programs are the ones that build on the initiative of people.
Housing is, quite simply, a foundation for prosperity. Our Conservative government looks forward to making the First Nations Market Housing Fund a success - so that First Nations can build strong, stable communities to develop a higher quality of life for all.
Thank you.
