Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As I was saying, the taskforce provides strategic input on two topics. This is initially about identifying, engaging and mobilizing the indigenous supply chain to enable it to participate in and contribute to government calls for tenders for products and services related to COVID-19.
Second, the impact of the crisis on indigenous businesses and communities must be analyzed to ensure that the Government of Canada can provide adequate support measures equivalent to those provided to the rest of the Canadian economy.
That work began with a survey that shows that indigenous businesses are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 compared with the rest of businesses in Canada. We are seeing that the government makes little use of indigenous businesses for its purchase of goods and services, especially when it comes to needs related to COVID-19.
To remedy the situation, the taskforce decided to create, in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada, a unique database of indigenous businesses that can fulfill various government contracts. To build that consolidated database, Acosys has partnered with Google and SADA Systems. Indigenous businesses have responded overwhelmingly. I'm happy to announce that the database has helped generate more than $5 million in sales for indigenous businesses that are registered, and this is only the beginning. In addition to meeting the government's needs in terms of products and services closely or loosely related to COVID-19, this initiative gives Canada a path toward what we call “economic reconciliation”.
In the second wave of COVID-19, the priority is of course to ensure the health and safety of individuals. That said, the Canadian government must also make sure to support the often fragile economy of indigenous communities. One of the best ways to do so is to support indigenous businesses by awarding them government contracts for the procurement of goods and services. It seems obvious that the Government of Canada must increase its efforts in that respect. I want to point out that the official target in terms of indigenous procurement is 5%, or the equivalent of the indigenous demographic weight in the country. We are currently at about 1%. So there is a lot of work to be done, work that will radically change things for indigenous businesses and communities. The impact of COVID-19 on the economy of communities is not just figures; it is also job losses, income losses, food insecurity, depression and many other dramatic consequences for families and communities.
Therefore, it is clear that higher priority must be given to their economies and their businesses in the efforts to support indigenous communities during this second wave.
Thank you.