Thank you for the question.
I think it's like you've said. By the way, I also made some of my income in the construction industry in the past. I think what you're saying about developing skills that will help you in finding employment afterwards is not a black and white situation. I agree with you 100%.
What I would say is that in terms of focusing on the farms themselves, and in terms of aboriginal culture relating to life, the cultural value of working with animals and plants is a special opportunity, not only to develop some of those marketable skills but also to practise your culture.
I grew up on a farm and I know that I learned a variety of skills. I learned block-laying and I learned plumbing. You had to. You had to know all of those things.
I was appointed by the Conservative government in Ontario to the Eastern Ontario Smart Growth Panel, and Mr. Holland's list intrigued me, because it was very similar to our list. Truck drivers were at the top, although actually the average block-layer or bricklayer in Ontario, at that time anyway, was approaching 60 years old. We have a vacuum when it comes to skilled trades. In fact, when we looked at it, we were appalled.
So for me, it's both; the farm produces a variety of skills.