It's the last day of the last week of the Zoom apocalypse of COVID, and I have done what everybody has done. I remained muted.
I want to begin by thanking members for allowing me to join this important committee today in the place of my very esteemed colleague Mr. Daniel Blaikie. I see my friend Mr. Ziad Aboultaif here from another committee. I'm pleased to be here.
Mr. Watson, I want to take this opportunity to draw out the critical calls to action in the COVID-19 indigenous business survey, particularly the points on development and implementing a proactive procurement strategy for government procurement officers to directly engage indigenous businesses that can supply or pivot to PPE.
I bring that up because in one of my other committees I've actually done a demand for documents on the federal government contractors program. I just wanted to draw attention to that in this committee, as there are many policies in place that state the set-asides at 5%.
I would like Mr. Watson to comment on what we know to be a well-intentioned policy, but which continues to fall short on any given day. What confidence does he have that this government will be able to actually deliver on this pivot to PPE in the context of the report?