Statement made on 08 June 2010 by Senator Charlie Watt
Hon. Charlie Watt:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
The need for adequate housing is at a crisis point in every Inuit region of Canada. According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 31 per cent of households in Nunavut and 40 per cent of households in Nunavik are overcrowded. In the North, the need for housing is three times higher for Aboriginal families than for non-Aboriginal families who are provided housing because of their employment.
Inuit face tremendous disadvantages to home ownership because of climate, the costs of shipping to remote communities, high taxes and the need to pay for goods one year in advance. We struggle with low purchasing power caused by extremely high prices and limited supply of materials in a non-existent economy.
The Inuit would like to know when the federal government will develop a national strategy for eliminating homelessness in the Arctic. Will this plan include programming for increasing Inuit participation in home ownership?
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