Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 28th, 2016

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

I think the promise of 50% of the department's workforce being indigenous goes back even to 1996.

I appreciate that they are long-standing challenges in hiring. I will just let you know a comment from a first nations woman with two degrees. She said she's repeatedly applied for a role in the department. She said, “For me, it is extremely frustrating, not just as an individual who is more than qualified and looking for a career, but on a larger scale, I find it frustrating for all indigenous people and for Canada as a whole.” Here we have a new government that talks about a nation-to-nation relationship and engagement and all that good stuff, and she says, “It seems like the whole 50% policy is just lip service.”

I wonder if you could maybe give us some more details on what steps will be taken to increase indigenous people—

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

We're out of time.

[Diane Lafleur]

Can I submit that maybe we can get back to you on some of the initiatives we have in place?

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Perfect, thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you, Diane. We're out of time.

I think we've heard our last question today.

I have to communicate with the committee members for a moment. We have the question of the votes in support of the subsidy. They're actually moot, because the deadline for reporting to the House is tonight and the soonest I can report the results is tomorrow. If we wanted to affirm our position one way or the other, I'm happy to do that. That would still get reported, although without impact in the House.

My question to members is on whether you would like to have a vote, or should we just gloss that one away?

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Don't worry about it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

I think what I'm seeing is that we don't need to have the vote.

With that, I would like to thank Minister Bennett, Mr. Thoppil, Ms. Lafleur, and Ms. Isaak for your time and comments today. It was very much appreciated.

I'm looking for a motion to adjourn, please.

[Don Rusnak, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

I so move.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

The meeting is adjourned.