Closing the First Nations Infrastructure Gap

Monetization is the practice of leveraging annual cashflows into long-term debt to build key infrastructure for communities. FNFA debentures are currently secured by First Nation own-source revenue dollars and are a proven way to raise capital for First Nations projects.

Monetization would complement this approach by leveraging annual federal transfers to build infrastructure at today’s costs. FNFA is advocating for the adoption of this model to address the widening infrastructure gap between the rest of Canada and First Nations communities.

Tzeachten First Nation opened a 23-unit rental housing development on the Tzeachten First Nation reserve, near Chilliwack in June 2022.

The Province provided approximately $2.5 million to the project through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund, while the First Nations Finance Authority provided about $5.5 million in low-cost construction financing. An additional provincial grant of approximately $300,000 was provided through the Investment in Housing Innovation Fund.