Evidence of meeting #8 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was asets.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
Do you have any idea on how much the investment is going to be for that project?
5:10 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
It's approximately $6 million until 2015.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
Roughly, how many clients will that affect?
5:10 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
I'd have to look it up. Our projects range from 50 up to 500 or more. I would have to get that specifically for you.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
Thank you.
If there were a new mining project in the country and an employer wanted to engage in this program and was looking for employees—we talked about how first nations can apply in those projects—from an employer perspective, how can an employer source out first nations employees?
5:10 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
At the moment, the best source is ASETS, because that's in place and it's everywhere in the country. The SPF is fully subscribed at this moment. It is a very popular program, so there's no scope for new projects as of today, but ASETS is still there. If an employer is proactively approaching ASETS for employment, I would fully expect that, as I have seen, the ASET holders are more than happy to deal with them and to train the people they want.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims
Thank you very much.
Your time is up.
We're back to you, Ms. Crowder.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Thanks, Madam Chair.
Mr. Sutherland, I think you indicated there had been no increase in funding since the late 1990s. I can't remember if it was Ms. Murphy or you who talked about the fact that people who are in the ASETS program can access child care.
We know that there's a rapidly growing younger population and that many of the students who are coming back do have children. Is there an additional pot of funding for child care, or does that have to come out of the existing funding?
5:15 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
We have two approaches to that.
We have the first nations and Inuit child care program, which is approximately $55 million a year. It is focused on on-reserve and Inuit communities. We did expand the scope of eligible expenses under the regular programming to allow for child care to be claimed; however, the overall envelope has remained static.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Is that $55 million a year something that ASETS organizations can access, or is it individual?
5:15 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
It's the organizations that are eligible to receive that money. As I said, it's first nations on reserve; there's a set list of them. They have a set amount that goes to them for provision of the child care.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
We have heard that ASETS holders, the organizations that are delivering ASETS, are saying that they're under-resourced for child care expenses, because a significant percentage of their student population has children.
5:15 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
That would be consistent with what they have told us.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Okay. Is that part of the review, then, to look at child care supports?
5:15 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Everything that's under the current system is being reviewed, and we will present options to the government.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
To go back to that process and what you indicated, you said in your presentation, “Over the coming months we will be analyzing what we have heard from stakeholders during our engagement activities.” Will stakeholders be involved in the final report in making recommendations?
5:15 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
We have a multi-tiered approach for how we're seeking input.
The first approach was around the country, where we talked to people on the ground. We've also talked to the national aboriginal organizations. We will be starting, I think tomorrow, an electronic engagement on a number of issues, whereby people will continue to be given the opportunity to give input to us. We will take that and present that through the normal program development process in the government.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Okay. What typically happens in these engagement processes is that people are asked for input, but there's.... We keep talking about the first nations education act, but what I've heard from first nations is that they saw the blueprint in July, and the draft legislation didn't reflect their input in any substantive kind of way.
People provide input, but they don't feel that the end product reflects their points of view. Is there going to be an opportunity for people to provide some additional feedback in that end product? You're talking about Internet engagement right now, but it's the end product that's more important for people.
5:15 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
The end product goes through the normal decision-making process of the government and at some point the input stops.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
With regard to SPF, you indicated the money is fully subscribed until 2015. I assume that's until March 2015.
5:15 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Yes. Sorry, I should have been clear.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
No, that's okay
In effect for the next coming budget year April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, there's no additional money in SPF. Is that what I'm hearing?
5:15 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
No new projects can be initiated because the money is all allocated. The projects that are under way will continue.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Right, but no additional projects. Mr. Clarke referenced the fact that there are approximately 600 potential resource development projects out there that could come online over the next several years.
I recognize that you can't make a decision about funding allocation, but I think it's an important point to flag that the money is fully committed until March 2015, which is another budget year cycle out. We've got these projects being developed and if it seems they're being successful, it would seem to be a reasonable opportunity to look for some further successes in that area. Again, you can't comment on additional funding; I get that.
There's a lot more information that needs to come forward. Is that information with regard to input on the ASETS published on the website so people will know that they can electronically provide additional information?
5:20 p.m.
Director General, Aboriginal Affairs Directorate, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Yes, that will be. As well, the final report for our engagement notes, what they've told us, will be quality controlled with everybody who participated and a final report will be made available to all.