Madam Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the hon. member for Wetaskiwin on behalf of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
Aboriginal inclusion in Canada's economic prosperity is important not only for aboriginal people but for all Canadians. The aboriginal labour force is young and is growing at twice the national average. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples estimated that 300,000 jobs will be needed by the year 2016. A major increase in the aboriginal economy and activity, both rural and urban, is essential to meet the needs and aspirations of aboriginal youth.
The government is committed to working in partnership with the aboriginal leadership and business people, Canadian industry, the provinces and the voluntary sector to take action that will create the conditions to maximize economic activities and jobs in aboriginal communities.
On January 7 this government announced our response to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. This response includes a commitment to change social assistance on reserves from passive income maintenance toward more active measures such as training and skills development to increase individual and community self reliance.
As part of our aboriginal action plan we announced the creation of an aboriginal human resources development council which will bring together the public and private sectors to identify employment opportunities for aboriginal people. The Regina Leader Post welcomed this initiative and said that it is encouraging that workable solutions are now being developed to help native people help themselves.
The solution is not to cut almost a billion dollars out of programs that support basic services for aboriginal people as the Reform Party plans to do, nor is the solution assimilation or Ottawa imposed paternalism. The solution is to work with aboriginal communities and businesses to help them acquire the tools they need to become full partners in Canada's future.