Human Resources committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a prepared text I will read from. It's not usually my style. I usually speak from the hip and ad lib my speeches, but for the record, and on behalf of the Métis National Council, I will read some segments on issues that we believe may be of help to

Human Resources committee  Sure. I will.

Human Resources committee  That's my Métis accent coming out. I read faster than I should be.

Human Resources committee  I will slow it down, Madam Chair. Across the country, the difference in median income between the Métis and the non-aboriginal population was widest in Alberta and in the territories. In Alberta, the Métis median income at $22,839 was about $6,600 less than that of the non-abori

Human Resources committee  That's a very broad question. I'll reflect first and look at our government, the Métis government. In fact, most of the people who are employed there are women. Actually, a lot of them are in management and are directors. But if you look at the status of the community, you'll fin

Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  Definitely, because there is a lack of the supports they need, and that's what you'll find. I say this openly and candidly in this room. Over half of the board in my government is women, so I can guarantee that women's issues are always at the forefront of our discussions. But w

Human Resources committee  Well, the easiest way--

Human Resources committee  There is a big housing crisis in Métis communities. We haven't had a house built in our communities for probably 12 or 15 years. The province is now embarking upon social housing, and we'll see where that takes us. There is clearly a shortfall. There's overcrowding, and it has a

Human Resources committee  What project are you referring to?

Human Resources committee  I'll start off with the last question with regard to the stimulus. In Canada we signed a protocol with Minister Strahl to advance a new partnership with the Métis people. One of the segments in the protocol was to include the Métis as part of this stimulus plan. We were invited

Human Resources committee  If you look at the Métis community—and I'll give you an example of the economic incentives that occur in our community as indicators of jobs—our traditional economy is one of the pivotal creators of jobs. I'm talking about forestry, commercial fishing, tourism, trapping—pivotal t

Human Resources committee  Yes, guaranteed. If you take the time to reflect on some of the independent studies, they'll show what the spinoff will be if you invest in this or that field, not only for the Métis but for all Canadians. I think it's imperative to look outside of what... If I can impress on th

Human Resources committee  Thank you. If there were any recommendation I'd suggest that would result in significant change, clearly it would be investing in Métis-specific child care. That would be the first and fundamental one, to strengthen the family. It has to be Métis. I used the words “Métis-specifi

Human Resources committee  Set-asides, Madam Chair, are this. In Manitoba, the Premier, for example, had a procurement strategy for the Red River diversion, saying that so many aboriginal people had to be hired for that. However, what he also did was to take $50 million and put it into a separate fund wher