Human Resources committee  Absolutely. I'll try to brief, Mr. Chair, in trying to get a word in. Quite simply, that person would walk into what they know; aboriginal people tend to go where they know. Our experience is they'll either walk into the friendship centre or the Métis local they know. Otherwise, you're advertising to bring the young people in.

Human Resources committee  Sure. The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres runs an ASETS program. We have several running special projects fund, or SPF, projects as well as ourselves here at our national office. One thing that's quite clear is that there is still a heavy reporting burden without a lot of clarity.

Human Resources committee  Yes, I would agree. I've seen it and it would. On the research side, there's clearly a gap between what I call the supply side of the urban aboriginal labour market and the demand side of industry and jobs. I think that's something that probably is going to come up in the Canada job grant.

Human Resources committee  Thank you. Mr. Chair and distinguished members of the standing committee, thank you for this opportunity to present on opportunities for aboriginal persons in the workforce. First, l wish to acknowledge the Algonquin nation, whose traditional territory we are on today. As you know, my name is Jeffrey Cyr.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  Sure. I'll try to be brief, conscious of the time here. Friendship centres, like first nations, operate on all three levels: a national body, regional bodies, and community-driven bodies. Communities actually create friendship centres. We don't create them. They're created by the communities they're in.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  I'll briefly add a few comments. I very much share the comments of the National Chief and my fellow panellist, Cameron, on shared responsibility and the fundamental nature of this Canadian problem, which we have jointly created over time and can only jointly solve over time. It takes concerted action.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  Madam Chair, distinguished members of the Status of Women special committee, thank you for the opportunity to present to you on this very serious issue. I wish to acknowledge first the traditional lands of the Algonquin nation where we are meeting today. My name is Jeff Cyr. I'm a Métis from Manitoba and the executive director of the National Association of Friendship Centres.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  Sure, I'll start.

Status of Women committee  I don't think my comfort is really at issue. I appreciate the question, but I don't think it's about the friendship centres and our level of comfort. I leave it to my first nation brothers and sisters on reserve—those chiefs, those councils, those bands, and the AFN—that have to deal with the ramifications at home where they are.

Status of Women committee  I think they speak for themselves, and I don't pretend to do that. I would suggest that there are ramifications in dealing with it, which many people have hinted at, that will come out of this piece of legislation. Any piece of legislation that's new has ramifications. It takes time for Canadian society to absorb it: what does that mean?

Status of Women committee  I don't know in that specific case whether it can be avoided or not. There are many reasons that—

Status of Women committee  It's useful to a degree. But you're running a website, and if you are facing issues—you're leaving, you're transitioning, and it's urgent for whatever reason—at the end of the day, having a human service at the end of it.... All the website does is refer you to where the people and services are.

Status of Women committee  I think changes to the human rights issue that surrounds matrimonial real property are overdue. I said that at the beginning. As to the way they get to be implemented, I'm not a legal expert. I deal with people getting services in cities.

Status of Women committee  That's okay. That's essentially the point.

Status of Women committee  I agree. I agree that with every piece of legislation, this is the way. That's what I talked about: looking at the complexities, how legislation is brought in. It has far-reaching implications that sometimes are not thought of. On the human services side—those things that allow people to properly access the changes that are going on—in Bill S-2, which I don't necessarily disagree with, there are still a whole bunch of services that need to happen and there still needs to be a way to access them.