Preamble
In the context where,
First Nations governments consider housing to be in a state of crisis and a national emergency that calls upon the federal government to act accordingly, in collaboration with the said First Nations; and
First Nations governments know that the long-term solution to the current crisis and the transfer of full control of housing to First Nations lie in negotiating, without delay, a new approach to housing with the federal government, within which First Nations would have the choice to fully exercise their legal jurisdictions or maintain the status quo; and
First Nations governments demand major investments in housing (including social housing) from the federal government, without delay, and full respect for its fiduciary, international, and other obligations toward First Nations, in the short and long term, to ensure that First Nations citizens are provided with adequate housing; and
First Nations governments consider the collaboration within this Tripartite Committee as a preparatory activity for said negotiations, or an activity aimed at closing the housing gap between First Nations and the population of Quebec; and
First Nations governments recognize the value of this Tripartite Committee and its potential for positive impacts, but do not consider it a substitute for said negotiations; and
the AFNQL, AANDC, and the CMHC consider themselves equal parties within this Tripartite Committee and consequently agree on the application of the principle of mutuality;
the Regional Tripartite Committee on Housing has the mission to submit recommendations to the respective authorities of the three parties, with the aim of:
- promote the improvement of housing conditions for First Nations (FN) members in Quebec through the establishment and implementation of short, medium, and long-term intervention strategies aimed at addressing the challenges faced within the communities;
- establish major policy directions regarding housing and define an action plan. Annually submit the draft of this plan to the respective authorities of the three parties for approval before any joint action is undertaken;
- implement the actions and orientations set out in the Committee’s action plan;
- promote exchanges and networking between First Nations, FN organizations, AANDC, and the CMHC through various communication or “networking” channels and tools;
- promote partnership in matters of mutual interest;
- participate in the dissemination of information to all communities and organizations (e.g., Tribal Councils).
1.0 Terms of Reference
1.1 Composition and Structure of the Regional Committee
1.1.1 Composition
Coordinating Members (CM):
- Chief responsible for the housing portfolio at the AFNQL.
- Director of the Indigenous Housing Centre at the CMHC.
- Director of the Funding Services at AANDC.
- Or a delegate from each of the organizations in authority.
Roles and Responsibilities:
➤ Serve as the watchdog for the Regional Committee’s mission.
➤ Make decisions during general meetings regarding the recommendations to be formulated.
➤ Provide the necessary directions for the progress of the activities of the working groups and advisory members.
➤ Oversee the approval of the action plan for the coming year.
➤ Ensure that their organization is always represented by a coordinating member.
➤ Sponsor one or more issues:
o Support the issue ambassadors during the implementation of actions.
Advisory Members (AM):
- The number of AMs serving on the Tripartite Committee is at the discretion of each organization. However, this number must align with the Committee’s premise of effectiveness and efficiency in its actions and ensure continuity in the implementation and pursuit of its mandates.
Roles and Responsibilities:
➤ Implement the decisions and directions of the CMs.
➤ Advise the CMs and formulate recommendations for them.
➤ An AM may be appointed as an issue ambassador:
- Ensure the follow-up of the implementation of actions and orientations for the issue.
- Communicate with the issue sponsor to report on actions or to obtain their support to facilitate the completion of the work.
- Report to the Coordination Committee (see 1.1.2) on the progress of the work and problems encountered, and recommend solutions.
1.1.2 Structure (see Diagram on following page)
The Regional Tripartite Committee is structured as follows:
I. A Coordination Committee (CC).
Participants: All CMs.
II. An Operational Committee (OC).
Participants: The AMs.
III. Working Groups.
Participants: The groups are composed of AMs and other invited participants.
1.1.3 Decision-Making
All decisions of the Coordination and Operational committees are made by consensus. The decision-making process for the working groups depends on their structure, their composition, and the nature of the files being addressed.
1.2 Coordination
The activities of the Tripartite Committee are coordinated by the CMs with the technical support of the AMs.
Coordinating Members (CMs)
- AFNQL
-
CMHC
-
AANDC
Intermediate Ring
- Advisory Members (AM)
- Liaison role between the CMs and the working groups
- Designation of an Ambassador for each issue
Issues / Working Groups (outer ring – clockwise)
ISSUE #1 – Working Group
- Members
- AM and others
- Ambassador
ISSUE #2 – Working Group
- Members
- AM and others
- Ambassador
ISSUE #3 – Working Group
- Members
- AM and others
- Ambassador
ISSUE #4 – Working Group
- Members
- AM and others
- Ambassador
ISSUE #5 – Working Group
- Members
- AM and others
- Ambassador
ISSUE #6 – Working Group
- Members
- AM and others
- Ambassador
Structures identified on the diagram
- Coordination Committee
→ Includes the Coordinating Members (CM) - Operational Committee
→ Includes the Advisory Members (AM)
1.3 Operating Procedures of the Regional Committee.
1.3.1 Annual Cycle (Periods, dates, and milestone deliverables)
– Annual housing event (meeting, forum, or other).
– Meeting #1 Coordination Committee
- Follow-up on the actions of the working groups.
- Approval of the final action plan for the new year.
– Meeting #2 Coordination Committee
- Mid-year review.
- Review and realignment of the action plan vs. actions.
- Final review: annual event.
– Meeting #3 Coordination Committee
- Review of the last annual event.
- Follow-up on the plan’s actions.
- Presentation of the draft action plan for the new year – adjustments and directions.
– Meeting #1 Operational Committee
- Review of actions related to the previous year’s action plan and year-end assessment.
- Presentation of the final version of the action plan for the new year.
- Launch for the organization of the annual autumn event.
- Preparatory for Coordination Committee meeting #1.
– Meeting #2 Operational Committee
- Continued planning for the annual event.
- Review of actions related to the action plan.
- Preparatory for Coordination Committee meeting #2.
– Meeting #3 Operational Committee
- Debrief on the last annual event.
- Review of actions related to the action plan.
- Preparation of the draft action plan for the coming year.
- Preparatory for Coordination Committee meeting #3.
1.3.2 Meetings, Objectives, and Procedures (Annual Cycle)
Rules
- Meetings will be held either in person or via conference call.
- Meeting or conference call dates and times must be decided with the agreement of all three organizations.
- In the event of a cancellation of a scheduled Coordination Committee meeting (in-person or conference call), the organization declining the appointment will have the responsibility and task of rescheduling the meeting.
- The host organization will provide a resource to draft the minutes.
- The minutes will be submitted to members for comments no later than fifteen (15) working days after the meeting is held.
- The OC will be responsible for developing the agenda and following up on the actions of the action plan.
- The final agenda and follow-up table must be transmitted (with reference documents) no later than 5 working days before the meeting is held.
1.4 Funding
AANDC financial assistance allowing the AFNQLS to support the RTC-H in the implementation of its mission will be available following the receipt of the AFNQLS final work plan (Housing component of the work plan). This financial assistance will be used to cover logistics costs associated with holding meetings of the Regional Tripartite Committee, the Operational Committee, and working groups, other costs inherent to RTC-H operations, as well as the management of the annual event, namely the AFNQL regional housing meeting. Furthermore, CMHC and AANDC will agree annually on the funding of this regional housing meeting. This funding will be used, but not limited to, to cover the associated costs, such as: room rental, catering services, audio-visual equipment rental, translation services, speakers’ fees, and travel and accommodation expenses for members of First Nations and the AFNQL.
2.0 COMING INTO FORCE
The coming into force of these terms of reference is subject to an exchange of correspondence between the parties.