Globeco could solve First Nations housing crisis

Ken Johnston

Recently one of our readers brought in an article about a company in Manitoba manufacturing prefab housing for First Nations Communities in that province.
The company is manufacturing homes much the same way that Globeco or Coryan were proposing to do in Rainy River in the past few years.
They sandwich insulating materials between wall panels made from Oriented Strand Board and ship them to the buyer. They are then assembled fairly quickly at usually a much lower cost than stick building.
However, those two companies were always shopping abroad for contracts to make their homes for.
With the huge housing crisis facing so many First Nations, one might wonder why Globeco was not approached by them to make homes for them; especially in a riding where there are so many First Nation communities and the Minister of Indian Affairs resides.
Not only would it solve a housing crisis, but it would create much needed jobs in Rainy River. Perhaps a job creation program could be utilized at the factory that would see both non-native and native workers employed; side by side, earning a living and also helping to solve a problem that seems to keep rearing its ugly head.
If it can be done in Manitoba, it should be able to be done here in Ontario.
–Until then,
Ken