Métis Nation and Canada Sign $500 million Housing Agreement

The Government of Canada and the Métis Nation have been working together to identify and advance shared priorities as identified in the Canada-Métis Nation Accord including affordable and social housing. The Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord is the second sub-accord under the Canada-Métis Nation Accord

Through the sub-accord on housing, the design, delivery, and administration of housing services will be administered by the Governing Members of the Métis Nation. It will be funded by a $500 million investment from Budget 2018 over 10 years.

Minster Bennett stated: “The Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord is an important step towards a renewed relationship with the Métis Nation – one based on the recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership. I look forward to continued dialogue in supporting the interests and aspirations of the Métis Nation and those of all Canadians.”

Métis Nation President Chartier added: “The Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord marks another important step on the path to forging a real nation-to-nation relationship with the federal government and addressing the pressing needs of our people for housing. It confirms the great value and effectiveness of the Permanent Bilateral Mechanism that the Prime Minister established with the Métis Nation and is achieving real change for our people.”

Following the signing of the sub-Accord, Minister Bennett and President Chartier led a discussion on the federal government’s Recognition and Implementation of Indigenous Rights Framework under development that is intended to include a collection of legislative and policy instruments that will ensure that the recognition and implementation of Indigenous rights is the basis for all relations between the Government of Canada and Indigenous Peoples. The Framework could also include new measures to support the rebuilding of Indigenous nations and collectives, and advance Indigenous self-determination.

The Framework is meant to accelerate the work already begun to renew the nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples which in the case of the Métis Nation are the section 35 tables with the Governing Members.

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