Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This is my fourth appearance at this committee in the 65 months I have served as accounting officer for the department.
During that time, I have had the privilege of working closely with three remarkable ministers. I have worked through three prorogations of Parliament, two federal elections and seen changes at the top of almost all of the national and regional aboriginal organizations, as well as almost all provinces and territories, and almost complete turnover at the House and Senate committees we answer to.
One of the few constants in my time as deputy head has been our working relationship with the Office of the Auditor General. I do want to take this opportunity to go on record conveying my deep personal respect for Sheila Fraser, John Wiersema, Ronnie Campbell, and Frank Barrett, all of whom, alas, are moving on to other things. We've had a spirited, vigorous, and very productive working relationship, which I hope will continue with their successors.
I know, Mr. Chairman, from experience that the committee doesn't appreciate long opening statements, or even long answers to questions for that matter, so I'm not going to make one. There are some issues on which I could quibble with the findings of the chapter by pointing to progress that's been made since the chapter was put to bed last spring, based on a snapshot that was taken even earlier. I'd be happy to table those detailed responses with the committee, or commit to further progress reports if that's what the committee desires.
I'm not doing that to diminish the importance of the chapter--quite the opposite. Madam Fraser's parting gift to this new Parliament is quite simply the best piece of analysis on first nations issues in decades.
I agree with the Auditor General completely so I don't want discussion on the details of any of specific findings to distract from the power of her cogent central message. The six-page preface is the best road map Parliament could ask for.
I'll take just one quotation from page 2 of the report:
We believe that structural impediments severely limit the delivery of public services to First Nations communities and hinder improvements in living conditions on reserves.
Absolutely.
Having participated in the evolution of these issues for the past five years, I am confident that the next year or two can mark a turning point in this area, and for our country, if we listen to that clear advice. I hope we're prepared to work together across departments, across federal and provincial jurisdictions, across public and private sector boundaries, and across partisan political interests to use the road map and make structural changes that are required.
It's quite probable that as members of this new Parliament you will have the opportunity as legislators to put in place modern legislative foundations for education, water standards, new approaches to financing infrastructure, and procedures for free and fair elections; to enhance the capabilities and transparencies of first nations governments; and of course to implement new treaties and settle old historic claims. It's by working together with first nations and others that we'll be able to move on all of the critical aspects highlighted in chapter 4: education, water, housing, child and family services, treaty implementation, and reporting burden.
Let me conclude with one more quote:
Change is needed if first nations are to experience more meaningful outcomes from the services they receive. We recognize that the issues are complex and that solutions will require considered efforts of the federal government and first nations, in collaboration with provincial governments and other parties.
I would be pleased to take your questions and try to explain what the women and men in my department are doing right now to make progress where it's possible with the tools we have, and to discuss the work we have under way with many partners to set the table for structural change.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.