The 2026 CBC Massey Lectures
Housing Inc.: A Global Takeover and Our Fight for Home
October 1 @ 7:00 pm
Under international human rights law, we’re all guaranteed the right to housing – not just a roof over our heads, but housing that is affordable and secure and which allows our inherent human dignity to flourish. But governments worldwide have failed to uphold that right.
In the 2026 CBC Massey Lectures, Leilani Farha, global director of The Shift and former UN special rapporteur on the Right to Housing, reckons with a crisis engineered by governments and perfected by financial firms.
In her Yellowknife Massey Lecture, called “The Very Human Right to Home,” she explores what it will take to make the right to housing real.
Following a brief intermission, join us for a discussion on housing and home in the Northwest Territories, moderated by CBC IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed. Which paths show the most promise in creating security for everyone, both in terms of physical housing and our relationship to the land?
Panelists:
Paul Andrew, Dene elder and former Chief of Tulita. The retired CBC broadcaster now focuses on healing and reconciliation for residential school survivors, some of whom face homelessness.
Arlene Haché, founder and former Executive Director of the Yellowknife Women’s Society. She has lived experience of homelessness and now serves as Co-Chair of the Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network.
The Honourable Lucy Kuptana, Minister responsible for Housing Northwest Territories and Minister responsible for the Status of Women. She represents the constituency of Nunakput and is the past director of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter Society.
A brief Q&A Session with the audience will end the evening. The entire event will be recorded for future broadcast on CBC IDEAS.
Since 1965, CBC IDEAS has broadcast the Massey Lectures, exploring the ideas that make us who we are. The lectures are a partnership between CBC, House of Anansi Press and Massey College in the University of Toronto. For a complete list, visit the CBC Massey Lecture archives.
