The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations celebrate grand opening of new housing complex

News release

The Government of Canada is making significant investments and working in partnership with First Nations to improve housing and reduce overcrowding on reserves.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations repurposed shipping containers and turned them into 21 rental units for its members (credit: Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations). February 7, 2019 — Tofino, Tla-o-qui-aht Territory, British Columbia — Indigenous Services Canada



Everyone deserves access to a safe and comfortable home. The Government of Canada is making significant investments and working in partnership with First Nations to improve housing and reduce overcrowding on reserves.



Today, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services, along with the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, congratulated the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations on the grand opening of their new and innovative housing development.



To meet their housing needs, the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations repurposed shipping containers and turned them into 21 rental units for its members. In addition to housing, this project created jobs and economic development opportunities for the community.



Indigenous Services Canada contributed $1.5 million and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provided $905,000 for the new housing complex project.



Quotes

“My congratulations to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations for your leadership and innovation in finding creative and environmentally sustainable solutions to address housing needs. Our government is pleased to partner with you to make this project a reality and to create modern, safe and comfortable homes for community members.”



The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Indigenous Services

“With such a tight rental market in Tofino, this development adds much-needed housing stock that’s safe and affordable for Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations members and seasonal workers in the community. And through the use of innovative building practices and materials, construction workers learned valuable new skills for future projects. I am pleased to support forward thinking initiatives like this that push boundaries and rethink what’s possible in the housing sector.”



The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

“We would like to thank all that were involved with this very important container housing initiative. Our Tla-o-qui-aht workforce developed the capacity to successfully build these beautiful homes and we are very proud of their achievements. This new housing complex is a part of our Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations economic strategic planning to both provide homes to our workers and create the much needed revenues in our collective housing needs.”



Terry Dorward

Acting Chief, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations

Quick facts

The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations are located on Vancouver Island, in Tofino, British Columbia, and have a population of over 1,200 members.



In British Columbia, First Nations can apply for housing funds through the New Approach for Housing Support Program.

For this project, the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations developed their own workforce and trained members through a carpentry program at North Island College that was sponsored by Indigenous Services Canada and the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation.

The Government of Canada is currently rolling out its National Housing Strategy (NHS)—an ambitious 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 percent.

The NHS is built on strong partnerships between federal, provincial and territorial governments, and on continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private sectors to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:



Rachel Rappaport

Press Secretary

Office of the Honourable Seamus O’Regan

Minister of Indigenous Services

819-934-2796



Media Relations

Indigenous Services Canada

819-953-1160

SAC.media.ISC@canada.ca

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