I think what you've just heard is that it is extremely difficult to get accurate information at the micro level about jobs, where jobs are available and what types of skills are needed.
They have consulted with the statistical experts in the country in Statistics Canada about how they would go about gathering that type of information. I think at this point what I am hearing is that they're saying they have a way they can try to move forward on this issue, but they are not yet sure it is going to succeed. If there are ways for them to try to do some of that work without trying to do it across the whole country, to try to understand whether they would be able to succeed at it or not, then it would be prudent to take some steps into it.
Maybe it's time for the department to say they know what they would have to do under the Statistics Canada approach, but I think that before they go too far down that road, they should go back to what they are trying to do here. The fundamental piece of their recommendation was to know what types of training these indigenous people need, what types of jobs there are, what skills are in demand, where those jobs are, what skill sets people have, and how we would train people. It's going back to those fundamentals.
Is there any other way to find out what jobs are available and what the skill gaps are? This may be the only approach to doing it. If so, they need to take some initial steps to see whether it can be successful. If those initial steps seem to indicate success, then carry on. If not, take a step back and ask if there's another way they can look at getting this data.