Human Resources committee  One of the things, as Jerry correctly pointed out, is that we need to have more aboriginal professionals inside in management level positions, especially on the operations side of it. When an aboriginal person decides to go into private industry as a professional, the first thing they're relegated to is aboriginal stuff.

Human Resources committee  The answer is that again it boils down to participation. What are the aboriginal people going into in their post-secondary education? It tends to be toward public sector careers, even though the market of available jobs is shrinking. I think the Government of Canada needs to engage aboriginal...and I think they're trying to.

Human Resources committee  That's a difficult chore for me, Mr. Chair, but I'll try. Cultural sensitivity is probably the best way to remove racial discrimination, or at least systemic discrimination, and this is something that needs to be taken in earnest, and I believe, promoted by the government. I don't have to look far to notice that.

Human Resources committee  First, I think I should answer the question of why aboriginal people go into the public sector. It boils down to this: that's where your network is. On the private sector side there are attempts to build a network with the Aboriginal Professional Association of Canada—APAC—and a few other ones.

Human Resources committee  As I said, three-quarters of that sample are female. As I said, those are the ones who are returning to school and are in the best position to take advantage of management positions. So the short answer is yes.

Human Resources committee  Basically it's been all of them. Out of the 15, we're seeing the progression. We started to do this in 2009, and our first intern got a job as a business analyst in the IT group with RBC, and she's considered to be, I would say, just below a senior business analyst in IT. This is a person who comes from Thunder Bay and who worked for the national aboriginal organizations before she retooled her career to become a business analyst.

Human Resources committee  I would agree with that statement. A lot of it seems to be that there's no support for aboriginal people who decide to go to university, especially if they come from remote communities. They basically are left to their own devices in terms of being able to pursue an education. To be absolutely honest with you, I don't blame them for leaving a program.

Human Resources committee  I'm glad you brought that up. Co-op programs are a very good tool, and I don't see enough aboriginal co-op programs right now within industry and within the aboriginal community, especially co-op programs focused on technology, digital economies, and so on. Where they have to get their training is in the urban centres, so there has to be some amount of support for them.

Human Resources committee  I think it's a two-pronged issue. One of the issues is the fact that the Government of Canada is asking businesses to have more participation and engagement with aboriginal peoples. Our experience has been that, yes, it's true that executive management has stepped up, and yes, it's true that human resources have stepped up, but when you come down to the operational level, this is where it's lacking.

Human Resources committee  Thank you very much for inviting me here to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. This is my first appearance before a government committee, so guys, go easy on me. My name is David Acco.