NDP federal leader Jagmeet Singh, centre, is honoured with a ceremonial blanket at the FSIN Assembly in North Battleford Wednesday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Hearing concerns

Jagmeet Singh says housing first priority at FSIN Assembly

May 24, 2023 | 6:07 PM

NDP federal leader Jagmeet Singh shared his thoughts about the importance of protecting Indigenous language, as well the need to fight for housing, healthcare, jobs and a shared prosperity during his speech at the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Assembly in North Battleford Wednesday.

“I was honoured to be able to speak with the FSIN, the chiefs, the Elders, the youth, and [FSIN] Chief [Bobby] Cameron. I was honoured to be able to say that the New Democrats are going to fight to make sure that we build a future of shared prosperity, where we work together with Indigenous communities to build opportunities where everyone can see a shared economic growth,” he said, summarizing his thoughts. “That’s the way we have to build for partnership. It’s going to be good for Indigenous and non Indigenous, building together, and justice for the First Peoples of this land.”

During question period, Sweetgrass First Nation Chief Lorie Whitecalf asked what could be done to ensure access to “sustainable funding” for the homeless shelter in the Battlefords, and the need to help people get to the root causes of their problems to find out – “why are you homeless,” she said.

Singh said housing is a first priority, as part of the solution to help people struggling with challenges, such as addictions issues.

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“Get them housed, and then deal with the addiction,” he said.

On the need for sustainable funding for the Battlefords homeless shelter, Singh said: “I’ll push for that,” in his work as the NDP Leader.

“One of the things I really believe is important when someone is dealing with challenges in their life, taking a housing first approach has been shown again and again as one of the most effective ways to give someone a chance at life,” he said. “Instead of approaching it through addiction first or rehabilitation services first, or employment first, really a housing first approach [is a better first strategy].”

Singh added when someone is housed they will have a roof over their head. Then, they can start to find other ways to deal with challenges they are faced with.

“I really believe that’s got to be the approach,” he said. “That means investing in shelters, that will mean places that are affordable to rent,” …. and subsidized residences.

Singh said he will continue to push at the federal level to see sustainable funding for homeless shelters, with the aim – “if you give someone a roof over their head, it will help them with the other challenges they might be facing.”

Another issue he heard from the Indigenous community was the challenge of accessing funding through Jordan’s Principle. A First Nation chief in attendance said Ontario is getting more funding than Saskatchewan through the program.

Singh said he was not aware that there was a difference in the funding based on where someone lives, and will look into the issue.

“Jordan’s Principle is about making sure Indigenous children get equal funding,” he said. “But there seems to be a difference in the application of that principle in other provinces, compared to Saskatchewan. That is something I didn’t know about; that is troubling to me. There should be an equal application of that idea that Indigenous kids deserve the same funding as non Indigenous kids. That should be the case across the country, no matter what province someone lives in or territory.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow