WEBEQUIE – Bob Nault, Member of Parliament for Kenora, on behalf of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services, joined Chief Cornelius Wabasse and the community of Webequie First Nation to celebrate the completion of recent housing projects worth over a total over $9.3 million.
“Everyone should have access to a safe and healthy home regardless of where they live,” stated Nault. “Today’s celebration of 14 new modular homes, two new four-plexes, five single-family homes and renovations to 14 existing homes means a reduction in overcrowding and an improvement in the quality of life for residents.”
All of these housing projects were funded through the Government of Canada’s Community Wellbeing Pilot Project, launched in February 2016. This pilot project is an innovative whole-of-government approach to community development that focuses on community-identified needs and priorities such as housing, water, health, education and financial governance.
As a result of these collaborative efforts, the community is able to provide new, safe and modern homes to 29 families, and was able to benefit from employment and business opportunities associated with housing construction and renovations. Since 2016, the Government of Canada has invested a total $9,387,564 toward these housing projects.
“I am very honoured to join with Webequie First Nation in celebration today,” concluded Nault. “I would like to congratulate and commend Chief Wabasse, council, and the members of the community on their dedication and the progress that has been made.”
“Every person deserves a safe and healthy place to call home. Our government was proud to partner with Webequie First Nation on their newly completed housing projects, which will provide 29 families in the community with new, safe and modern homes. Through the Community Wellbeing Pilot Project, a whole-of-government approach focusing on First Nation-identified priorities, we are working with Webequie and other communities to reduce the housing gap and support the needs of First Nations families in communities across the country,“ states Jane Philpott, P.C., M.P. Minister of Indigenous Services.
“Building trust and strengthening partnerships is key to good relationships. The collaborative team approach on this Wellbeing Pilot project has been transparent and has resulted in tangible outcomes for our community. The engagement process used with the pilot has been a vehicle for reconciliation by facilitating the development and implementation of real actions towards addressing our community priorities in the areas of infrastructure, health and education. This is a good example of sharing our experiences and challenges in a cooperative manner with our partners. We look forward to continue working with our federal and provincial partners on future Wellbeing initiatives,” says Chief Cornelius Wabasse, Webequie First Nation.
Quick Facts
- Webequie First Nation is one of three northern Ontario communities participating in the Government of Canada’s Community Wellbeing Pilot Project under the Strategic Partnerships Initiative.
- The First Nation is located approximately 540 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and is accessible by air year-round or by seasonal winter road. The traditional territory of Webequie First Nation falls within the area known as the Ring of Fire.
- Indigenous Services Canada provided $6,366,164 in funding for 10 modular units, building two four-plexes, renovating seven homes, capacity development and land use planning.
- The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provided $3,021,400 for six modular units, five single-family homes and renovations to seven homes.
- Funding from the Strategic Partnerships Initiative facilitated both local employment and economic development related to housing, and increased the community’s overall readiness to participate in economic opportunities associated with mineral development in the Ring of Fire.