Status of Women Committee on June 6th, 2017

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you very much for that.

My next question is directed to the Métis Women's Council.

You discussed industry that is specifically designed for indigenous women. I'm interested in where the merging is between the mainstream economy—mainstream sectors as we know them—and these indigenous sectors. How do you see those coming together? Certainly, I think it's very important to find employment. I'm a very big believer in the potential of all citizens being used to the greatest potential. Where do you see the merger of what we would consider the mainstream economy with these more indigenous sectors, or are they not compatible? Are they parallel? I guess I'm trying to understand ultimately how we merge the two.

[Valerie Kaufman]

I would like to think they are compatible. We certainly have high hopes for that. I think our excitement around indigenous tourism right now is very high in Alberta and, I think, in other provinces. We are seeing a real resurgence in that we are very proud of our strong history in this country, and we want to be able to showcase it to the world. I think that's an opportunity.

The hospitality industry is an opportunity. We have wonderful, outstanding new aboriginal chefs who are coming on TV, and all kinds of things, so we're really excited about that.

These are some of the high-profile things, but then there are always the industries our men traditionally go to: construction, oil rigs, and that kind of thing. They've always done that.

I think it's there. I think we just need to let people know we are there.

We're the highest-growing youth population in this country. We're going to have an awful lot of young people who are well educated. Our education numbers are increasing, certainly even in my own personal experience. I remember six graduates in about 1960 from the University of Alberta. We're at a couple of hundred a year now, so they are increasing. Don't quote me on the numbers because I could be wrong. That's a personal memory.

I think there are some positives there—I really do—and particularly around tourism. We are really going to hit this one hard as a council this year. We want to see our government take a huge surge forward with this area.

[Phyllis Steeves]

The intersection between industry and indigenous peoples will continue to increase, in large part as industry becomes aware of our capacity. I think that industry is really underinformed about what we could possibly bring, and what we do bring to many professions.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Pam Damoff]

Thank you. That's your time.

Our last round will go to Mr. Sean Fraser.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

Fantastic, I wasn't expecting to get another round. This is excellent.

I'd like to follow up on some of the questions from my colleague Ms. Vandenbeld for the First Nations Women's Council on Economic Security.

You mentioned near the beginning of your remarks the dilemma that indigenous women are facing when they're presented with a more fulfilling career opportunity off reserve. They lose some of the supports they might have, whether it's the cost of fuel or access to child care. They might take a potentially less fulfilling job that's more convenient, for lack of a better word.

I'm trying to figure out how, as a federal government, we can help encourage indigenous women to take part in what they view to be their most fulfilling career opportunity without undermining them by cutting their supports. Is there a strategy that the federal government can employ to make that decision easier?

[Tracy Lee]

It's a great question. Programs that are more accessible, education programs that are more accessible, whether they be online....

One other thing, too, is to recognize that with a lot of indigenous women, maybe the grandmothers are raising the children, or they're very young parents. Child care is definitely a need.

More access to educational opportunities is a need, whether they are online...and maybe more partnerships with universities with local institutions. A few first nations have colleges on reserve, so it's maybe more partnerships with those colleges. For example, you can get most of your education degree, your social work degree...but it's more partnerships, such as those with major institutions and local institutions, and then for those that don't have those colleges, to have more access to online learning.

When I advocate for online learning, I'm also advocating for that centre, that capacity on reserve. There is very limited access to that on reserve.

[Marlene Poitras]

One area, too, is that there could be more on-reserve and off-reserve partnerships. We found one that is quite successful through Creating Hope Society, which is an organization that I do contract work with. They give women bus passes. They try to help them out in accessing the educational institutions.

A lot of women when they come from a reserve have numbers of children. They don't just have one or two, some of them have four or five. Child care is a huge barrier. Even in terms of some of them getting their driver's licences, there are a lot of barriers in getting their identification—

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

If I can jump in quickly again—I have a minute or so left—your organization released a report in 2016 that indicated that about 40% of indigenous people between 25 and 64 have no post-secondary education, or diploma, or certificate, compared to 11% for the non-indigenous population.

Are there different barriers to accessing education for indigenous women than are faced by indigenous men or non-indigenous people that we could be focusing on as a federal government?

[Tracy Lee]

It's definitely what my colleague pointed out around women coming to school as mature students. They're coming with their families. A really nice program would be subsidized housing for women with families. That would be a recommendation.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

I think I'm brushing up against my time limit here.

Thank you very much for your answers.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Pam Damoff]

We have time for one very quick question from Ms. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

As I listened to all of this and the resources required, and of course the resources allotted.... I'm a very proud Albertan, and I'm shocked to hear of the number of Métis. My husband is from Winnipeg, and of course...exactly, so this is wonderful.

The lack of affordable housing, etc., begs the question of transparency. Could each group please address in 20 seconds how we could address this problem of transparency? What can we do to see the results that we so desperately need for both of your organizations?

[Phyllis Steeves]

I would reiterate the notion of accountability. When funds are given, who makes the particular bodies accountable for their distribution? How long is it taking to get those funds out there? Who's overseeing the distribution of funds? Who's determining which applicants are considered worthy to receive those funds? There are countless ways once the funds are committed before they are distributed and when they are, how do we know they're being used as intended?

I always think about an example. When my grandson was in school, my daughter was aware that as a Métis child he had funds allocated to him, and because she knew as a parent that was his right, she went to the school and ensured that appropriate books were purchased for him, whereas if parents are not aware that's available for their children, the funds just go into the general....

[Valerie Kaufman]

We really notice it. We do presentations on Métis heritage and culture in the schools in Edmonton, particularly at this time of year because of National Aboriginal Day. In the past we would do maybe 20 presentations in the month of June. Schools have now taken maybe one or two of us to present in a day to six schools, with perhaps 600 students. This has become really unfair.

I'm certainly more than happy to share our culture. The kids show such pride, saying they're Métis too. It's exciting to see that, but it's difficult when you start to take advantage. All those schools have a school-based budget, which has allocated dollars specifically to increase aboriginal cultural components. Sure, they're paying for the bus for them to get there, but that's it. There is no accountability. There is no ability to say they're not spending their budget in the right way, and because it's a school-based budget it can be reallocated wherever they choose. It's difficult.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Pam Damoff]

I'm afraid that's our time. We're going to have another group come in right now. I'm sorry not everyone got an opportunity to answer that question. If either group has any comments they'd like to provide to the committee, if you think of something afterwards, please don't hesitate to send it to us in writing.

I want to thank all our witnesses for being here today. It's been very helpful.

The meeting is adjourned.