Affordable housing has become a priority for municipalities, Indigenous communities and the federal government in the past couple years.
Locally, Kapawe’no First Nation is also getting on board with a proposed project in Grouard.
Kapawe’no First Nation Land Holdings proposes a development to include 24 modular townhomes along with communal space and likely a community meeting centre.
It is a much-needed project for the region.
Communities in the High Prairie, Smoky River and Peace River regions all need similar projects as many people struggle to find a home that is cost effective. Rising costs to buy a new multi-bedroom residence have become too high for most first-time homebuyers.
Affordable housing became a major project for Prime Minister Mark Carney shortly after he took office March 14, 2025 and leader of the Liberal party. He established Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency designed to accelerate building and expand access to affordable housing for Canadians across Canada.
While the program is geared more toward large urban municipalities, with funding available for more projects, it would greatly benefit rural regions such as those in northern Alberta.
Municipalities and Indigenous communities are always looking for federal and provincial funding to become partners in community development and growth. Funding and federal support for affordable housing would go a long way to sustain municipalities and Indigenous communities and boost regional economic development.
Last year, Driftpile and Big Lakes County created a joint committee to pursue economic development. The committee is one of five partnerships in Canada in a three-year First Nation – municipal collaboration under the Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI), a national program presently jointly by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Council for Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO).
The partnership is designed to support First Nations and neighbouring municipalities to build respectful and economic partnerships and to develop long-term planning for joint economic development and land use.
Big Lakes Reeve Tyler Airth best describes the value of partnerships.
“We recognize that working together to address our economic challenges will strengthen our relationship and the regional economy and move our communities forward,” Airth says.
Many Indigenous communities, such as Kapawe’no, are proactive in economic development, which includes housing.
Rural municipalities in northern Alberta are surrounded by Indigenous communities.
Together, they need each other to be sustainable and grow in the future.
Richard Froese