Evidence of meeting #28 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was part.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Okay. So it's exactly in one of your recommendations. I have the translated version, so that's why I....
Senior Vice-President, Government Affairs, Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association
Yes, it's definitely a part of our recommendations.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
It's part of the recommendations. Okay. Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thank you, Mr. D'Amours.
The last question is to Madame Bonsant.
Bloc
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
I asked you earlier how we could stop the labour shortage. Mr. Wassmansdorf, you gave me an idea.
We have a tendency to turn our eyes towards Mexicans, but why wouldn't we turn them towards aboriginal people? They are, among Canadians, those who have the most children. On the other hand, it is in reserves that the suicide rate is the highest and this, because they have nothing to do. Those people have been around here for quite a while and they are used to work. I think the North is for us an untapped wealth.
I don't mean by this that I would like to empty reserves, especially since this would mean emptying my district. It remains that aboriginal people are an extraordinary resource. Why wouldn't we first of all give some training to our Canadians? I know that aboriginal people work well. I remember that in my youth, when a very high bridge was built, aboriginal people were virtually the only ones to be brave enough to work on the top.
Aboriginal people are a natural wealth. Why wouldn't we seize this opportunity to help them also?
Executive Director, Canadian Food Industry Council
I can start with that.
It is a focus, certainly in the sector council system, and that's why there is a sector council dedicated to it as well as initiatives that are working sector by sector. I think somebody mentioned earlier that perhaps immigration isn't the entire solution. I think for the sector councils, better integration of the aboriginal population also isn't the entire solution. It's most definitely a very important part of it, and does address a bit of the Canadians first without being the exclusion of everything else. But it is certainly important to look at our concern, which is that it alone wouldn't be the full solution to the scenario with the severity that we see right now.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thank you very much.
That concludes all the time we have. I once again appreciate the time that every one of you has taken to be out here today to explain to us some of the issues we need to move forward. There seem to be some recurring themes, I can assure you, as we move forward. Once again, I want to thank you very much for your time today.
The meeting is adjourned.