The Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is pleased to offer the Financial Literacy Program. This program is available to all MNO Citizens with the goal of improving the overall financial literacy and well-being of Metis individuals, families, and the Metis Nation as a whole. There are two streams involved with the Financial Literacy Program.
• Client-based: You have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a Financial Literacy Coordinator to work towards reaching your identified goals. The process begins with an assessment of your specific needs and goals, then all discussions and provided resources are specific to you and your needs. Contact us directly to enroll in this program.
• Community-based: The program also provides generic financial literacy information and materials through workshops, webinars, and resource creation and distribution. Keep an eye out on this webpage for updates.
To access our current available resources, please see the following links:
- Financial Literacy Basics
- Free Tax Preparation 2023
- Understanding your Credit Score
- Striving to be Debt Free
- How to Protect Yourself from Fraud
- Deciding Whether to Purchase a Home
- Costs of Buying a Home
- Down Payment Resource
- Programs Available for First Time Home Buyers
- Budget Planner
- Budget & Saving Tips for Youth
- How to Make a Budget
- Navigating Self-Employment
- How to Save for Retirement
By increasing overall financial literacy, we hope to empower members of the Metis Nation to make sound financial decisions independently and achieve a greater sense of security and success in their financial undertakings. If there are financial literacy topics you’d like to learn more about, we’d love to hear your suggestions.
CONTACT: To access the Program’s services or to learn more about the Program, please contact the MNO’s Metis Housing Programs Team by email at housingprograms@metisnation.org or by phone at (705) 722-5022 ext. 302
Virtual Financial Literacy Workshops
The Financial Literacy Program creates and facilitates virtual workshops as part of the ‘Community-Based’ stream of programs offered. These workshops touch on various financial literacy topics that can be helpful for those who are planning on eventual homeownership.
Dealing with Debt Workshop
This 50-minute workshop can help you to understand the difference between good and bad debt, create strategies to help you manage your budget with debt reduction as a goal, as well as tips on how you can get out of debt faster.
This 45-minute workshop covers budgeting for homeownership – understanding how your current budget will change once you become a homeowner, learning about the costs of buying and maintaining a home, and considering what you can do to prepare your budget for homeownership.
This 45-minute workshop is all about your down payment – how much you need, where it can come from, and what supports exist to help you maximize your savings, including information on the MNO Home Buyers Contribution Program.
This 45-minute workshop dives into qualifying for a mortgage – understanding how mortgages work, what information you’ll need to provide, and how to overcome some of the common qualifying barriers.
This virtual Lunch & Learn Workshop will provide valuable information and insights into all of the costs of buying a home.
- who you pay your money to
- what amount you’re required to pay
- where each amount can come from
- when you make each payment
- why each cost is required
Plus, a closer look at the MNO’s Home Buyers Contribution Program and the 10 steps you’ll need to take when buying your first home.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Financial Literacy Program offers two streams of financial literacy support to MNO citizens who are looking to learn more about financial topics such as homeownership planning, budgeting, credit scores, and debt management.
The client-based stream offers one-on-one support with a Financial Literacy Coordinator to work towards reaching your identified goals. The process begins with an assessment of your specific needs and goals, then all discussions and provided resources are specific to you and your needs.
The community-based stream offers generic financial literacy information and materials through workshops, webinars, and resource creation and distribution.
This program is available to all citizens of the Metis Nation of Ontario. It is geared towards helping those who are working towards homeownership or those who are currently homeowners, but is open to all citizens.
This stream is fully customized to each individual’s situation, meaning there is not a standard expectation for participation. The client-based stream begins with an assessment of your specific needs and goals. Following the assessment, an action plan will be created to help you achieve the goals that you have set for yourself. You can expect to be provided with information and resources that relate to your goals, and you may have tasks that are recommended to help you achieve those goals. Participation is completely voluntary and you can withdraw at any time.
This stream provides generic resources on various financial literacy topics. Handouts, worksheets, webinars, and workshops are all are available to anyone through the Metis Nation of Ontario website.
No. This program does not cost anything to participate in.
No, this program does not provide money to MNO citizens. Instead, this program provides information, resources, and support on financial literacy topics so MNO citizens can improve their understanding of their own finances and options.
The Financial Literacy Program does not provide advice. It is a support for citizens to find resources, education, and support regarding financial literacy topics. Staff in this program are not licensed to provide financial advice.
Participation in this program is completely voluntary. The program offers support as needed, and as such, the level of commitment can vary significantly depending on each participants’ situation and preferences. No commitment is required, but it is encouraged to ensure participants are able to reach the financial goals they have set for themselves.
You can access all available resources on the MNO Financial Literacy webpage.
For more information or to get started, you can contact HousingPrograms@metisnation.org.
The Financial Literacy Program is open to dialogue with other individuals and organizations offering financial literacy support and programming. Please forward your requests to HousingPrograms@metisnation.org.