Thanks very much, MP Battiste. You're such an important voice at this table as a first nations member. Obviously, you have first-hand experience through your own first nation about the devastating impact of poverty and unemployment.
That's what the goal of the 5% procurement target is. It's to help elevate indigenous businesses—yes, and communities—out of what I would say was an intentional economic exclusion.
We set a procurement target. I think that's the first thing. This government has been very serious in its intention to pursue economic reconciliation.
I appreciate MP Idlout's call to be reflective when we're talking about the word “reconciliation”, because not all indigenous people feel comfortable with that word. Whatever we call it, the Government of Canada has reparations to make. We have been doing that as a government, as you know, over the last nine years, whether it's settling land claims or being more respectful of treaties and funding. There were all kinds of deficits left behind after a decade of neglect, including water.
It's also about ensuring that indigenous businesses are seen as the economic powerhouses they really are. That's the legacy of this government. I think it's an important one. It's one I assume members of Parliament who are Conservative believe in too. Why would they spend so much time talking about a procurement strategy if they didn't believe in the importance of indigenous procurement?