SURREY, B.C. -- Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says it has taken longer than expected to provide direct housing help to Indigenous people living in major cities as his party renewed its vow for support and outlined a plan to make the country's bankshelp foot the bill.
Indigenous people living in cities make up a disproportionate number of homeless populations, as well as those living in housing that they either can't afford or that doesn't meet their needs.
The Liberals first promised help in the 2019 election for urban Indigenous housing providers, calling it the missing piece of the national housing strategy.
Housing providers had high hopes for funding to be in the spring budget but were left fuming when the money didn't materialize even after what they noted were "several conversations" with the government about how to craft the plan.
Speaking in Surrey, B.C., Trudeau said his government has continued to work on the pledge during the pandemic in trying to co-develop a plan with Indigenous Peoples that has been complicated, suggesting that was the source for its budgetary exclusion.
"That is more difficult because of the nature of urban Indigenous populations, but it's also more important to do it right with urban Indigenous populations, which is why it is taking longer," Trudeau said Wednesday in a province with a model for how funding could flow.
"It takes longer to get something right. We will be there to partner to invest in urban Indigenous housing."
The Indigenous caucus of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association said the pandemic has increased the need for more affordable and safe housing for urban Indigenous people, but it needed to be Indigenous led.
"Housing for Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural and northern settings is precarious," the group said in a statement. "The absence of a dedicated housing strategy for urban, rural, and northern Indigenous Peoples is a glaring gap in the national housing strategy."
The Liberals are looking to revamp the housing strategy further if re-elected, promising billions on the campaign trail to help first-time buyers get into the market while also helping to maintain and expand supply.
To pay for some of it, the Liberals are looking to reel in what they calculate will be about $2.5 billion annually over four years, starting in 2022, by upping the corporate tax rate on Canada's profitable financial sector.
Trudeau outlined a pledge to raise the corporate income tax rate paid for Canada's largest banks and insurance companies by three percentage points -- from 15 per cent to 18 per cent -- on all earnings over $1 billion, and establish a "Canada Recovery Dividend" so these institutions contribute more over the next four years of Canada's recovery.
Trudeau said asking large financial institutions, which have recovered faster and stronger than many other businesses, to pay a little more will allow the government to lend a helping hand to Canadians looking to buy a home.
He rejected a suggestion the planned measures would cut into the returns realized by pension plans that have invested in financial institutions.
"Our banks will continue to be strong and profitable," Trudeau said.
Demonstrators denouncing Trudeau's vaccination policies hurled expletive-laden epitaphs from the street while the Liberal leader spoke from a backyard in the quiet neighbourhood where home prices easily reach $1 million or more.
As Trudeau arrived, shouts of "coward" and "we will end you" could be heard, while hollers of "freedom," "my body, my choice," and "just you try and make me, Justin" echoed in the backyard during the prime minister's event.
The demonstrators then followed Trudeau, yelling at him, while he walked a block to his motorcade, surrounded by his security detail. At one point, Trudeau yelled back at them to go get vaccinated.
It was the second group of protesters that greeted Trudeau during his less-than-24-hour swing to B.C.
His arrival Tuesday night at a downtown Vancouver hotel was delayed several hours when Indigenous protesters stood alongside Liberal supporters, drumming and singing songs, questioning his policies on the environment and reconciliation.
One demonstrator, whose English name is Katie George-Jim, said promises of money wasn't enough from Trudeau or any party leader to move reconciliation forward.
"I don't think that any political party can show just through that type of political process justice for Indigenous people," she said. "It requires only the Indigenous Peoples of these lands feeling empowered and feeling sovereign to put forward that energy."
The demonstration and rally eventually dissipated after Trudeau's arrival was delayed for what the party called a security concern.
Asked Wednesday about why he didn't speak with the demonstrators, Trudeau said his campaign was engaging with all Canadians during an election.
"This is a time of choice for people," Trudeau said. "People get to choose on how we're going to move forward as a country, both through this pandemic and how we build a better future for everyone."
This story by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2021.
