I want to begin by saying that our government is committed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is committed to a renewed relationship with indigenous peoples, and I feel honoured that as the minister of PSPC I can play a role in establishing a relationship with indigenous suppliers.
We are developing initiatives to increase opportunities for indigenous businesses to succeed and grow. For example, through the pandemic, we awarded 26 contracts, worth over $73 million, to 21 companies. Those are indigenous-run businesses.
We've also run competitions specifically for indigenous businesses because we realize that it's very important for indigenous businesses to have access to federal contracting opportunities.
I am committed to increasing opportunities for indigenous businesses. I have, on my own team, hired a person who is responsible for indigenous policy and procurement. It is a priority for me, and I will continue to work on it.
I would also like to say, though, that it's not just indigenous businesses that I am concerned about. I am concerned about black-owned and managed businesses. I have reached out and held round tables with members of the black business community so that we can ensure that members of diverse communities across this country have access to procurement opportunities from the federal government.
I would also like to mention—and specifically because I know that MP Green has concerns about disaggregated data—that I, too, have those concerns. We have put in place an e-procurement system to enable us to glean data relating to indigenous and diverse suppliers. Data that we haven't heretofore been able to collect will now be able to be collected through the e-procurement system that we are piloting and that we hope to be using across government in terms of federal contracts.
Thank you for the question. It's been very important to me, and it will continue to be important to me as minister and as a visible minority minister at that.