Madam Speaker, I move that the second report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, presented on Monday, April 25, 2022, be concurred in.
I thank the member for Sarnia—Lambton for being the seconder on this motion, as well as the member for Battle River—Crowfoot who was right there.
This is an important issue. The second report of Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs is entitled, “Barriers to Economic Development in Indigenous Communities” and it was tabled back in April 2022.
The report's study highlights the ongoing challenges faced by indigenous peoples in Canada in achieving economic development, despite their right to self-determination. First nations, Inuit and Métis communities continue to experience significant socio-economic disparities when compared with non-indigenous people. This includes lower incomes, education levels, employment rates and property values.
The committee concluded that these disparities are largely the result of historical and systemic inequalities further exacerbated by federal policies and regulations.
In February 2022, the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs initiated a study aimed at identifying the barriers to indigenous economic development and exploring ways to eliminate them. Addressing these barriers could not only enhance outcomes for indigenous communities, but also contribute significantly to Canada's economy, potentially adding $30 billion to the national GDP by closing the socio-economic gap between indigenous and non-indigenous populations.
Witnesses to the study identified several critical barriers to indigenous economic development, including limited access to capital, inadequate infrastructure and, in some cases, a lack of capacity. These challenges are deeply rooted in the history of colonialism and the ongoing failure to fully recognize indigenous jurisdiction. While many—