Thank you, Chair.
Before I get down to the specifics of the actual report, I have a few comments to make.
They begin with the status report “Matters of Special Importance”, from the Auditor General of 2011, Sheila Fraser, in a report to Parliament. Madam Fraser said at the time, under a subheading, “Conditions on First Nations reserves”:
Between 2001 and spring 2010, my reports included 16 chapters addressing First Nations and Inuit issues directly. Another 15 chapters dealt with issues of importance to Aboriginal people. I am profoundly disappointed to note in Chapter 4 of this Status Report that despite federal action in response to our recommendations over the years, a disproportionate number of First Nations people still lack the most basic services that other Canadians take for granted.
It is clear that living conditions are poorer on First Nations reserves than [anywhere else] in Canada. ...In a country as rich as Canada, this disparity is unacceptable.
That's from Mr. Ferguson's immediate predecessor in 2011.
Mr. Ferguson, in a message to Parliament on November 29, 2016, had this to say at that time, under the subheading “Lack of progress”:
In just five years, with some 100 performance audits and special examinations behind me since I began my mandate, the results of some audits seem to be—in the immortal words of Yogi Berra—“déjà vu all over again.”
...Another picture that reappears too frequently is the disparity in the treatment of Canada's indigenous peoples. My predecessor, Sheila Fraser, near the end of her mandate, summed up her impression of 10 years of audits and related recommendations on First Nations issues with the word “unacceptable”. Since my arrival, we have continued to audit these issues and to present at least one report per year on areas that have an impact on First Nations, including emergency management and policing services on reserves, access to health services, and most recently, correctional services for Aboriginal offenders. When you add the results of these audits to those we reported in the past, I can only describe the situation as it exists now as beyond unacceptable.
Then we roll in here today with the latest report. The audit objective is very simple:
The objective of this audit was to determine whether Indigenous Services Canada satisfactorily measured and reported on Canada's overall progress in closing the socio-economic gaps between on-reserve First Nations people and other Canadians, and whether the Department adequately used appropriate data to improve education programs to close [the] education gaps.
Under “Conclusion”, the report states:
We concluded that Indigenous Services Canada did not satisfactorily measure or report on Canada’s progress in closing the socio-economic gaps between on-reserve First Nations people and other Canadians. We also concluded that the Department’s use of [the] data to improve education programs was inadequate.
When is it going to change?
With the greatest of respect, I believe you are very sincere, Deputy, but I've been here going on 15 years, and I have heard more deputies from that department come in here and make all kinds of promises and then break them. Why on earth should we believe you today, as opposed to all your predecessors who came in and made equally lofty promises?
I'm glad you think that's funny.