Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones is calling on Aboriginal Affairs Minister Patty Pottle to start taking leadership and action to put money from the aboriginal housing program into the hands of aboriginal families.

The aboriginal housing program was established in 2006 by the federal government. The money was transferred to the province, yet families in Labrador have not seen any of this funding. The program was designed to provide assistance to low-income off-reserve aboriginal homeowners to make critical or emergency repairs to their homes.

“It was the responsibility of the provincial government to negotiate the transfer of those dollars through the aboriginal groups in the province and it is still not complete,” said Ms. Jones. “I have been receiving numerous calls from aboriginal families in northern and southern Labrador who are complaining that government has been sitting on this $8.2 million from the federal government for three years. It is time for the minister responsible for aboriginal affairs to take some leadership on this file and start helping these families in need.”

The housing program allows Labrador aboriginal homeowners to receive assistance grants of up to $9,500. Home repairs may include items such as heating, electrical, plumbing, deteriorated structures, foundations, windows, doors, roofing or siding.

“The winter has arrived and there has been no housing funding allocated in Labrador again this year. It is simply unacceptable for the minister to be doing nothing to distribute this money to the families who require this assistance. I am asking her to meet with the aboriginal partners and to get this program off the ground as soon as possible. The federal government has already given the money to the province for these housing upgrades, it is time the province stop stalling and put these funds into the hands of the people for whom the program was designed.”

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