Finance committee  You always hear the debate that there's no accountability, but it's always going back to the chief and council. People think they're the problem. But that's not the case. The more common case is—

Finance committee  We are held accountable. We have to show that we're in class. We have to show that we are maintaining an average. If we do fail out, we have to pay back the money we owe. That's accountability.

Finance committee  We do have support from the opposition. The Conservative government is very wary about that simply because they're trying to balance their books, but what they fail to realize is they have treaty obligations to make sure we do become an educated population. As well, they're seeing the dollars we're asking for, $260 million additional annually, but what they're failing to realize is that there will be benefits that will come with that, a $400 million investment back into the economy over the next 20 years.

Finance committee  Thank you. One of the things we have noticed is that aboriginal women who have a university degree actually end up making more money than women of different races in Canada. As well, on being a role model, aboriginal youth have the highest suicide rate amongst any cultural and age group in the entire world.

Finance committee  Absolutely. Sorry. Role models? Absolutely. They're doctors, teachers, policy-makers, and others. Thank you.

Finance committee  Thank you for the question. What we're looking for is an increase of about an additional $260 million annually back into the program. What that can mean is approximately $400 billion invested back into the Canadian economy through personal investment as well as tax. I think the people I'm presenting with here today would benefit by supporting me in that, and everyone else.

Finance committee  I'd actually disagree. There's this argument, you know, get into the trades, there's a void that needs to be filled, but we're trying to meet the needs of our communities. What use is a plumber when you don't have running water in your community?

Finance committee  I said what use is a plumber when you don't have running water in your community? There's the argument then that there's a need for plumbers everywhere, but we want to encourage aboriginal youth to be able to go back to their communities so they can improve and end the cycle of poverty that currently exists.

Finance committee  Yes. Currently, about one in three receive no funding at all. Obviously with the treaty obligations that's pretty unacceptable. What we're trying to do is see the removal of the 2% cap. That means that the program cannot grow by more than 2% every year. The provincial governments and provincial legislation are undermining this program by allowing tuition fees to rise by 5% to 8% annually.

Finance committee  --we really need more funding.

Finance committee  My name is Patrick Smoke, and I am the national aboriginal representative for the Canadian Federation of Students. I am a member of the Mississaugas of the Ojibway. My community is Alderville First Nation. I want to start by acknowledging that we are meeting on traditional land of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.