The Trudeau Liberals are offering Indigenous communities $30 million in prize money as part of a new contest.
The contest could end up rewriting the rules about how the federal government funds badly needed housing on-reserve.
The goal is to draw in private sector builders to help finance the construction and repairs of homes in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
The Liberals are looking for new ideas to help cover the estimated $30 billion needed to repair and upgrade such infrastructure.
An Indigenous services official says the contest will investigate policy changes that are needed for projects and ideas that aren’t easily permitted under existing funding rules.
More details about the program will be announced this fall when the applications open for the prize money.
The winnings will be awarded over three rounds starting in spring 2019.