Human Resources committee  At present, we are not focusing on the budget allocated, but instead on program content, principles, and objectives.

Human Resources committee  Before asking Mr. Vermaeten to give you more detail, I want to point out that we are not undertaking this exercise with a view to predetermined changes. We have no specific objectives; it is more open than that. The “directives” that the minister mentioned last week and that we h

Human Resources committee  Your question on the clients is very important.

Human Resources committee  We'll just conclude, Chair, with saying where this whole process will go. The minister indicated that our goal is to have this wrapped up, in the sense of having agreements with the provinces, or at least a good, strong sense of direction, by the end of the calendar year. We are

Human Resources committee  We believe that the availability of the envelope will be constant, but that is not the objective of the consultation exercise. We are examining options in the current budget context.

Human Resources committee  That is a policy and budgetary issue for the government, but I can say that the transfers are ongoing. However, the government could decide to change the process. We are seeking to make improvements assuming that the current budget will be renewed.

Human Resources committee  Thank you very much, Chair, we're glad to be back before you on this subject. If you allow me, Mr. Chair, I would just like to mention that this will, in all likelihood, be Mr. Vermaeten's last appearance before this committee. After about five years as ADM of the skills and em

Human Resources committee  Mr. Chair, perhaps it would be more useful if we were to look into the situation within the department and provide you with details when we come back next week.

Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  Perhaps I could begin and then Mr. Vermaeten could add some detail on the skills and partnership fund. There are three principal programs in the department targeted at improving the employability and skills of aboriginal Canadians. The first is the assets program, which is what

Human Resources committee  The funding for the first nations job fund, Chair, is not the same as the funding for the assets program, but it will be distributed, we hope in the vast majority of cases, to what we refer to as assets holders. These are the service providers—there are about 80 of them across th

Human Resources committee  I would just say those negotiations with the provinces on the affordable housing agreements are beginning. Our colleague, Steven Mennill, from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation could add detail if you wish.

Human Resources committee  I would just reply very briefly, Chair, that before the department spends any money on any program, we make very sure that the appropriate accountability and performance measurement regime is in place. But I would also just refer to the minister's comments that the government fe

Human Resources committee  I think as well, Chair, there's no single program other than the youth employment strategy that is specifically targeted at youth—although, as was discussed earlier, the first nations job fund, just from the demographics of that, is targeted at 18- to 24-year-old aboriginals on r

Human Resources committee  I was just going to add, Chair, that I met recently with my provincial counterparts of deputy ministers of social services, and we had visiting us and speaking to us the members of the panel the minister referred to earlier. One of the members of that panel, Mark Wafer, was descr