The federal government will send 15 modular homes to the troubled Attawapiskat reserve in northern Ontario to help deal with the community's housing crisis, Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan says.
Duncan told reporters in Ottawa that the homes, which cost around $1.2 million, would be sent to the remote reserve near James Bay when winter roads to the community are open, likely in January.
Duncan reiterated the government's offer to either evacuate some residents from the community or move them to temporary lodgings at a sports centre or healing lodge.
"Our government has prioritized the urgent health and safety needs of the residents of Attawapiskat," Duncan said.
About 1,800 people live in Attawapiskat, where a severe housing shortage has forced families to live in tents and unheated trailers, some without access to running water and electricity. Many others live in crowded, substandard housing.
Local leaders declared a state of emergency at the end of October.
Crisis has been 'mishandled'
Duncan again said the government would conduct a comprehensive, independent audit of the band's finances.
"It's clear that significant investment in the community has not generated the results that the residents of Attawapiskat deserve and all Canadians expect."
New Democrat MP Charlie Angus, who represents northern Ontario area, said moving in extra homes was a good move but the federal government needs to do more.
"Unfortunately, I think they mishandled this file all along," he said.
Sometimes the winter roads do not open until the end of January, Angus said, and weather conditions could turn extremely harsh in the meantime.
He also said moving people into the sports centre wasn't a viable option.
"It's a big ice rink with a shed on top," he said. "You can't put people there."
Greg Shisheesh, a community activist from Attawapiskat, told CBC News elders in the community say the winter roads might not open until February.
He also rejected the plan to move some residents to the healing centre because it is far from Attawapiskat and has no plumbing.
Shisheesh also asked why Duncan has yet to visit the area to "hear the cries of the whole reserve of Attawapiskat."
Manager earns $1,300 a day
Duncan on Friday again urged Attawapiskat's leaders to work with the government's third-party manager.
The move last week to appoint Jacques Marion, from the accounting and consulting firm BDO Canada LLP, to oversee the band's finances at a cost of $1,300 a day drew the ire of many aboriginal leaders.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence has described the move as "very shameful."
Duncan said Marion's salary would be drawn from the band's governance funds and wouldn't hinder the delivery of social programs, including education.
Angus described the appointment of Marion, which he said could end up costing the band $300,000 a year, as a punishment.
"That will cripple this band," Angus said.
Marion was told to leave the reserve shortly after arriving but still remains in control of the community's funding, according to a release from Aboriginal Affairs.
The government says it has given Attawapiskat around $90 million since 2006, including $4.3 million for on-reserve housing. It has also ordered an independent audit of the community's finances.
Attawapiskat is only the most recent example of how overcrowding and dilapidated infrastructure on reserves can lead to community-wide health and safety issues.
Attawapiskat Crisis
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