A collective claim against Canada for not providing adequate homes in the land of the first nations is being heard in a federal court this week in Winnipeg.
The first nation of San Teresa in Manitoba and Sandy Lake First Nation in the northwest of Ontario filed the demand in 2023. More than 100 first nations have opted for class action.
The claim statement alleges that Canada has “deliberately subfredited homes in reservations”, while isoking the first nations by imposing restrictions on their ability to provide homes for themselves.
The legal team of the first nations says that this is the first case in considering the federal government’s obligation to provide adequate housing for the first nations.
“The housing crisis in reserve is a national shame,” said St. Theresa Point, Raymond Flett, in a press release.
“Our children and future generations deserve to grow in decent homes where they can survive and flourish.”
Class action is looking for $ 5 billion in damage.
The 2023 claim statement He alleges that 25 percent of the 646 houses in St. Theresa Point, 465 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg, must be condemned due to “decomposition and severe rot”, and that more than half of the houses in Sandy Lake, 450 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg, need important repairs.
The claim statement refers to a 1977 federal government strategy that would provide homes “physical infrastructure that complies with commonly accepted health and safety standards” similar to neighboring non -indigenous communities.
The claim statement He also alleges that the intensity of an H1N1 flu outbreak in 2009 in St. Theresa Point was attributable to the lack of running water and load housing. He says that Canada’s response was that the flu sprout was to send bags for the body instead of responding to the source of the crisis.
The press release He said that it is still common for 20 people to share a small home and live in structurally “falling apart” or without plumbing.
There are no legal obligations for housing, says Canada
Canada’s defense statement said that “Canada does not build or maintain houses in reservations.
“The first nations are responsible for planning, acquiring and managing their housing actions. Canada supports their housing projects through financing …
“Canada owes no legal obligation or duties to build and keep houses to the reservation. The claim must be dismissed.”
In his 2024 defense statement, Canada said that 185 of the houses in St. Theresa Point require important repairs and 25 houses require replacement and that, of 432 houses in Sandy Lake, approximately 55 of them require important repairs and 55 require replacement.
The Defense Declaration also said that the Canada Public Health Agency identified the lack of current water or overcrowded homes as factors that probably contribute to the 2009 H1N1 outbreak of St. Theresa Point.
He denied the rest of the accusation, saying that Canada responded significantly to the outbreak and that the Health Canada nursing stations were advised to order supplementary pharmaceutical products, medical supplies and equipment to provide four months of stock instead of the normal six weeks of stock.
The audience is expected to end on Thursday.
