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Housing Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The OFNTSC Housing Program is dedicated to ensuring that Tribal Councils, and their affiliated communities, Large First Nations and Unaffiliated communities are provided with the necessary training, information and tools required to achieve capacity and control over community housing.

To achieve this, the OFNTSC Housing Program provides specific training opportunities in the following areas: building inspections, better construction and building practices, energy efficiency practices, and housing management. The Housing Program also provides policy analysis, position statements and advice on specific issues such as community housing policy, building, renovating and maintenance, code interpretation and compliance, and government policies and programs related to housing.

The Housing Program assists with the development of proposals and business plans, and reports. It collaborates with federal and provincial agencies such as CMHC, INAC and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) through housing capacity development initiatives, and pursues alliances with other Aboriginal groups and professional associations.

Under an agreement with NRCan, the Housing Program staff delivers, markets and promotes the R2000 and EnerGuide for New Houses programs.

As an authorized delivery agent for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH), the Housing Program coordinates and facilitates building inspector related courses that can lead to certification.

Staff participates in, and contributes to, the Chiefs of Ontario’s Ontario First Nations Steering Committee on Housing, as well as a range of federal and provincial housing related committees dealing with technical and funding issues. The OFNTSC housing staff also participates as a member of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Infrastructure and Housing Technical Committee and is an advisor to the Ontario First Nations Building Officials Association.

The Housing program also supports housing data collection through the Conditional Assessment and Housing Database (CAHD) and research and development.

Housing Program News

R-2000 Builders Workshop

May 8, 2009 - 12:35pm

The OFNTSC will be providing R-2000 training during the week of May 26-27, 2009. The location of this training will be at the Saugeen First Nation Training Centre. The course is available to all individuals who are interested in becoming R-2000 Certified. The course offered is the first course in becoming a R-2000 professional.

Canadian Economic Action Plan On Reserve Housing

May 1, 2009 - 2:50pm

The Canadian Government’s February 2009 Federal Budget included funding for specific on-reserve housing initiatives under Canada’s Economic Action Plan (CEAP). The funding is intended to stimulate the Canadian economy.

Technical Training & Registration

January 21, 2009 - 11:03am

The Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC) is pleased to announce R-2000 Training for First Nations. Courses offered will focus on Plans Evaluation and Inspetor/Air-tightness. As a delivery agent the OFNTSC, is the liaison between First Nations/Tribal Councils and Natural Resources Canada to provide training for the R-2000 intiative.&nbs

Technical Training Dates have Changed

January 7, 2009 - 11:12am

Training dates for the Housing Progam have changed. Please check the new dates listed on the interactive calendar on the home page, to ensure that you dont miss your chance to participate in this training. Listed below are also the new dates for training.

Part 9: The Building Envelope, Jan 26-30, 2009, Venue: Shibogama First Nations Council, Location: Sioux Lookout

Building Code Training

December 3, 2008 - 2:18pm

The Housing Branch of the OFNTSC is pleased to announce a training calendar for Building Code Course's for the year 2009. Over the next year the Housing Program will be facilitating Building Code training in centralized areas servicing Tribal Councils and First Nations.

Housing Technical Training Needs Assesment

September 23, 2008 - 12:53pm

The primary purpose of OFNTSC conducting a technical training needs assessment is to ensure that there is a need for training and to identify the nature of the training required.This technical training needs assessment will be utilized to identify what educational courses or activities should be provided to technical service providers to improve their work productivity.

EnerGuide Name Change

May 4, 2008 - 2:53pm

Same market transforming program - new federal name. "EnerGuide for New Houses" is now called the "EnerGuide rating service". These changes were put in place to help our energy efficient new housing branding fit within the larger ecoACTION Initiative that it supports.

$300 Million Into First Nation Market Housing Fund

April 20, 2008 - 2:57pm

The Federal Government announces $300 million investment in a First Nation Market Housing Fund.

Read more…

Click here to view full housing program news archive.


The OFNTSC client base consists of all 134 Ontario First Nations, including 15 Tribal Councils, six Large Nations and 22 Unaffiliated First Nations.