Thank you, Ms. Block, for your question.
Certainly this is an area where the department has spent a considerable amount of time laying the groundwork to ensure that the governance guidance reporting structure is in place to implement the minimum 5% target government-wide.
There has been a lot of work in close collaboration with indigenous partners and other government departments to develop tools and detailed guidance outlining parameters, obligations and available supports. These are being distributed to procurement officers and disseminated through governance committees. We certainly are moving towards achieving the 5% target that has been set. It is a difficult and complex task. The consultation is ongoing with indigenous partners to identify barriers to participating in federal procurement.
I must say that Shared Services Canada—as you know, there are two sides to this department—exceeded the 5% indigenous procurement target in fiscal year 2021-22, with a total value of 6.3% and a volume of 7.8% of SSC-funded contracts awarded indigenous businesses. We expect obviously for this fiscal year, 2022-23, to meet that 5% indigenous procurement target within Shared Services.