Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Has the department considered making any new inroads with the federal government? It does not seem like there is any new funding coming by way of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Also, a large portion of the debt that this government is carrying is because of the Housing Corporation and the obligations we have taken on with the transfer of housing from CMHC.
Has the Minister made any attempt or is there any possibility of new arrangements being made with the federal government? Are we finding new initiatives that we can try in regards to how we can access social housing, since you mentioned that aboriginal housing was one area we could have gone to.
For some reason, we have been rejected. I, for one, feel that there again, aboriginal First Nations should have the right or the ability to get into the business of housing their own people. I know for a fact that in other areas of Canada, such as the Metis settlements in Alberta, they administer their own housing programs. You have the self-government agreements in the Yukon as well where they administer housing.
I am just wondering, when will this government seriously try to find new ways or new initiatives to either not totally get out of housing, but give up those areas where groups, such as First Nations governments, will probably have a better chance of delivering those programs and services for their First Nations people?