Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to welcome all our witnesses and thank them for coming. It's a pleasure to have them with us today.
My question is for the Minister of Indigenous Services.
Minister Hajdu, you raised the importance of education in your opening remarks, including the investment in a new K-to-12 school on Piikani Nation, which sounds like an incredibly positive step for that community.
UNDRIP also underscores the importance of education in article 14, paragraph 2, highlighting the right of indigenous individuals to access education “without discrimination”.
In Quebec, the implementation of Law 14, more commonly known as Bill 96, is creating new and unfair obstacles that discriminate against indigenous CEGEP students and that undercut their chances of graduation. Students are frustrated and rightfully feel that they ought to be supported in their pursuit of higher education, but instead, many have expressed feeling set up to fail.
Can you speak to the importance of removing barriers to education for indigenous students, particularly in my home province of Quebec? Thank you.