I want to make a comment. I was just looking at my notes, and when you talk about aboriginal elementary and secondary education, Indian Affairs and Northern Development put $2.6 billion over two years into particularly targeting that. I just wanted to mention that, because I think we have to know there is a lot of emphasis on aboriginal training for both elementary and secondary. I'm hearing today some of the comments about how important it is. I do realize how important it is.

I think we have to know that the government is looking very seriously at how we can make sure that group is targeted, especially in Saskatchewan, and considering all the sensitivities that Janis had alerted us to. It is a huge issue, and we're hoping to address it.

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Can I just ask for a clarification? I'm a little confused.

You said $2.6 billion over two years, targeting aboriginal training. You said both elementary and secondary. Do you mean training and elementary and secondary?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

I meant secondary education programs. I'm talking about aboriginal elementary and secondary education programs. The training we offer to aboriginals comes under programs under HRDC. I'm just saying that in our department we have moneys, but we're talking about literacy. And there's money that's been cut, and aboriginals are unfairly--

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Yes, but the $2.6 billion, I presume is for.... I mean, the point is that the Government of Canada is responsible for the school system on reserves, right?

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

Yes.

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

And that's the elementary and secondary system.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

I just want to put on record that it isn't that--

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Am I right that the $2.6 billion is mostly for that? I don't know on that--

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

The $2.6 billion is for--

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

It's for that.

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

Yes, and it's exactly that. That is clarified there.

I want people to not misunderstand that the government does not recognize that the aboriginal communities are getting funding for their elementary, their education, their post-secondary education, but also we are offering training. On the literacy cuts that we're continually talking about, it sounds like we are not giving any money towards education at all towards aboriginals. I'm finding that there's a lot of misunderstanding about the education of aboriginals.

9:55 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

I don't think anyone is saying that the government has cut the funding for schools on reserves, but there certainly remains in literacy--

9:55 a.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

Well, secondary education, though--

November 10th, 2006 / 9:55 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

They will affect people off reserves at least and the various training for people under literacy. We'll have to wait and see where all that--

10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

We're in debate now, I believe.

10 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

I'm sorry, this is a debate. I'm trying to understand what--

10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

It was for clarification.

I just want to take this opportunity--

10 a.m.

As an Individual

Trudi Gunia

I just have a question for Lynne.

On funding for aboriginal youth off reserve, though, there is no funding, is there, for school or for--

10 a.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

No, but for post-secondary there is, from the federal government.

10 a.m.

As an Individual

Trudi Gunia

Okay.

I have a granddaughter who is part aboriginal, and we have checked into it and she's not qualified.

10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Maybe you two could have that conversation after the fact.

I do want to thank all the groups for being here today to make their presentations. We realize this is a huge issue across the country, so we appreciate your different viewpoints as we try to formulate some recommendations to the government to help them with this huge crisis.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to be here today. It is certainly greatly appreciated.

With that, the meeting is adjourned.