Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank the witnesses for their presentations, and I congratulate Ms. Poitras.
My questions are for Ms. Isaak.
Earlier, the representatives of Employment and Social Development Canada told us that young indigenous people were three times more likely than non-indigenous students to drop out of post-secondary studies. Since the education of indigenous youth is a federal responsibility, I think that our reflection and the committee's study should focus particularly on that aspect.
We are not starting from zero. Some studies are already ongoing. Among others, according to recommendations from the Expert Panel on Youth Employment, we need to target aboriginal youth. The panel asked the government to create urban healing and employment centres for aboriginal people, to invest in essential and educational infrastructure projects, to provide distance vocational training, as well as to create a fund for graduates to provide mentorship and participate and the entrepreneurial development of aboriginal youth.
Last week, at the Youth Strategy round table on “A Common Vision for Youth Employment in Canada”, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations made recommendations pertaining to aboriginal youth.
How does your department take into account recommendations like this that concern you? How do they influence your programs?