A federal advocate has labelled the housing conditions of Canada’s Inuit population as a “staggering failure” on the part of federal, provincial, and territorial administrations.

The report penned by Marie-Josee Houle attributed the current state of Inuit housing to colonialism and decades-long governmental shortcomings.

According to Houle’s investigation, many individuals in Inuit communities have resorted to burning parts of their homes for warmth, while others often seek refuge in cars or tents.

The report also found that the rate of homelessness in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, is four times higher than that of major urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver. Over half of Inuit residing in traditional territories lived in overcrowded housing, with nearly a third residing in dwellings requiring significant repairs.

While some Inuit do own homes in Nunatsiavut, Houle identified challenges such as a lack of accessible and affordable mortgages, along with inadequate home or tenant insurance.

Citing the Nunatsiavut Executive Council, the report indicated that 78% of the population don’t have access to home insurance.
 

New report: Today, we launched a report on housing conditions in the North in partnership with @NunatsiavutGov and @NTunngavik. It affirms what has been said by the Inuit for decades: the right of the Inuit to adequate housing is being violated. Read more ➡️ https://t.co/rEGKSo4sWD pic.twitter.com/uw7Ds984u3

— Office of the Federal Housing Advocate (@HousingLogement) November 27, 2023

Aluki Kotierk, president of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., expressed no surprise at Houle’s findings.

“We live with it,” she told reporters at a press conference in Ottawa on Monday.

In the report, Houle provided a series of recommendations, including urging the federal government to delegate authority over Inuit housing programs to Inuit governments. She also called for the creation of independent Inuit housing advocates or ombudspeople.

The human right to housing was recognized by Parliament in 2019 through the National Housing Strategy Act. Houle was appointed Canada’s first federal housing advocate in 2022. 

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