Mr. Chair, the amounts that will be invested to foster further participation of aboriginal Canadians in the resource economy, and specifically in the energy sector, would not yet be reflected in the main estimates.
We have been doing some work in fostering greater conversations and dialogue with aboriginal Canadians from western Canada and other parts of Canada through our existing authorities, for example, through the authorities already funding the major project management office and other parts. As well, for a number of years we have provided support—though I don't have the numbers at my fingertips—through our forestry programs for aboriginal participation in the forestry sector, working with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
We also support development of resources in the north through a range of initiatives—again, going back to geomapping for energy and minerals where we also engage with communities. The polar continental shelf program is a science based facility where we also engage with aboriginal Canadians.
This dialogue with aboriginal Canadians cuts across virtually all of our programs and would not be found in one of the line items in the main estimates.