First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Atlantic

Registration and Continental Breakfast

Traditional Welcome

Conference Chair Opening Remarks

Terry Richardson
Chief
Pabineau First Nation

Year-In-Review Housing Challenges and Opportunities: Lands Governance, Climate Change, Financing and More

Terry Richardson
Chief
Pabineau First Nation

Danielle Alain
Land Code Governance Advisor East
First Nation Land Management Resource Centre

Our morning session will discuss the major housing and infrastructure needs for Atlantic Canada and the path forward, as well as housing related priorities of First Nations governing lands under the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management. The governance and regulatory framework for housing and infrastructure can be just as important to future success as bricks and mortar. This session will explore issues such as land use planning, environment and climate change planning, enforcement of First Nation laws such as residential tenancies and trespassing, new financing options, as well as the re-design of the federal additions to reserve policy.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES PART TWO

Deep-Dive into the Priorities and Initiative for Funding for Infrastructure Projects

Michel Leger
Director, Community Infrastructure, Atlantic Region
Department of Indigenous Services Canada / Government of Canada

Our speakers will discuss the investment of $398 million over two years which will be distributed to Indigenous Services Canada to support community infrastructure on reserve.

• 2.4 billion over five years to support First Nations housing on reserves
• $565 million over five years to support housing in First Nations Self-Governing and Modern Treaty Holders communities
• $845 million over seven years to support housing in Inuit communities; and
• $190 million over seven years for housing in Métis communities.

Morning Networking Refreshment Break

Housing Initiatives in Urban Settings: Concrete Actions to Address the Housing Crisis and Homelessness in Atlantic Canada

Susan Motty
Deputy Chief / Capital Construction Coordinator
Pabineau First Nation

Indigenous people living in urban settings are experiencing homelessness at alarming rates.
This session will explore initiatives to:

• Obtaining funding from Indigenous Services Canada for housing for what kind of housing
• Assessing the urban homelessness crisis for Indigenous peoples
• Exploring initiatives to reduce poverty and homelessness, and improving health outcomes in Atlantic Canada
• Analyzing the actions taken to provide housing and services
• Understanding the roles of the key players who adequately address this including: government, Indigenous service providers and First Nations
• Enhancing community partnerships and recognizing client diversity
• Eliminating barriers and creating initiatives to assist Indigenous people to return to their communities

CASE STUDY

Implementing a Repair Strategy for a Multi-Property Portfolio

Terry Richardson
Chief
Pabineau First Nation

• Delineate the tenant’s and the housing office’s responsibilities when it comes to maintenance
• Build a team with the training and skills to perform maintenance
• Examples of different maintenance programs
• Instill a ‘pride of stewardship’ in residents to avoid damages and encourage proactive maintenance
• Prioritize certain issues, such as mold

Networking Luncheon

How to Create Affordable Housing and Ensure a Return on Investment through a Monetize Social Housing Model

Julianna Robertson
Policy Analyst, Housing, and Infrastructure
Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat

Gordon Hart
Business Development Manager, Mi’kmaw Communities
Efficiency Nova Scotia

During this session, our speakers will discuss the successes and challenges of monetizing social housing, and address some of the fiscal policies that can change to lead to affordable housing.

• Regulating the costs of housing
• Lowering the cost of the interest rates, plus a return to sustain economic growth

Snapshot of Off-Reserve Housing Statistics and Homelessness

Sharanjit Uppal
Senior Researcher Economist
Statistics Canada

This session will cover data from the 2018 Canadian Housing Survey to summarize select characteristics of First Nations people living off-reserve who have experienced homelessness (unsheltered and hidden) in the past. Current information on housing and economic status of these individuals will also be presented.

Networking Refreshment Break

THE ROAD AHEAD

Futureproofing Atlantic Canada: Resilient Housing and Infrastructure in a Changing Climate

Alex Cadel
Climate Services Specialists
Government of Nova Scotia, CLIMAtlantic Inc.

Amid wildfires, flooding, and other hazards brought on by climate change, it’s important to understand how these risks impact land use planning and asset management. During this session, our speaker will discuss updated climate projections for Atlantic Canada, how our changing climate is relevant to the housing and infrastructure sector, and how practitioners can access information and support related to climate change for their decision-making.

How to Collect Accurate Population Data in First Nations Communities to Better Forecast Future Housing Needs

Dr. Luke deMarsh
Academic Counsel
Pabineau First Nation

This session will address how to obtain accurate quantified data that will identify housing and infrastructure needs for future generations.

• Identifying how to successfully obtain measurable data that will lead to success
• Determining how to put forth data to decision makers
• Understanding what the data means
  • How do you use it?
  • Who owns it?
  • Quantified data versus qualitative data
• Understanding how we know we’re being successful and how to collect data that would lead to success
  

Closing Remarks from the Conference Chair; Conference Concludes