Thank you, Chair.
I want to thank the witnesses for their participation today.
Ms. Jaime and Mr. Obed, in your respective opening statements, you raised a number of important points. You talked a lot about obstacles. I get the impression there was good will behind this idea of offering procurement opportunities to indigenous businesses, but perhaps it all happened too fast.
Ms. Jaime, you talked about the criteria for an individual to obtain indigenous status, but verifying indigenous businesses was also mentioned. I'd like to hear more from both of you on that issue. I know the work is ongoing and you mentioned that it would be completed by March 2025.
However, right now, some people who are not indigenous are taking advantage of opportunities for indigenous peoples, so what should we do? What distinction should be made, for example, between an Inuk person and an Inuk business? Based on what criteria should a business to be recognized as indigenous? We know that a company's status could be determined by its owner, but should it also be determined by its employees, suppliers and subcontractors? I know the work isn't finished, but I think that question should be top of mind.