Human Resources committee  Every agreement has a distinctive identifier and you have a specific contingency that you need to be eligible for as clientele, I guess. So you could provide something called minimum levels of services to absolutely anyone. I'll give you an example. The centre in Calgary provides these types of services to first nation clients.

Human Resources committee  If they are first nations, they will go to their respective first nations' agreement, and if they meet the conditions of the EI Act, they will have access to either part I or part II dollars, as long as they are within that particular jurisdiction. But the Shuswap Nation, for example, will not provide investments of...

Human Resources committee  I propose to you that Canada has done really well since the devolution in delivering programs to the aboriginal community and their respective constitutional groups. So I think that should remain. In terms of what happens at the ground level, I'll give you an example. In Calgary, there is a first nation and Métis centre, one in the north and one in the southern part of the city.

Human Resources committee  Absolutely.

Human Resources committee  By and large, the provinces do take seriously the need to provide services to all of their citizens. In terms of policy development, some provinces are doing much better. I note for instance that the Alberta government, since 2000 when they produced a fairly good document called “Strengthening Relationships”, has tried to create an aboriginal workforce strategy.

Human Resources committee  Are you asking me?

Human Resources committee  Everyone should have ample access to all Canadian programs.

Human Resources committee  Sure. The data hasn't been properly set up. There are tonnes of problems with the provincial data. I think if money is being directed to aboriginal communities, the provinces should be asked to report on how they are investing it in aboriginal programs, not only in terms of the investment but also of their consultative stages and how they are seeking to integrate provincial programs with aboriginal labour market programs.

Human Resources committee  Sure, I'll clarify that. The LMAs contain a clause that calls on the joint committee, federal and provincial officials, to work together and integrate their respective programs with the aboriginal communities. The argument that we made and that came from this particular research is that even though the clause is there, it was never enacted.

Human Resources committee  I think so. What we found is that in British Columbia, for example, there is a very close working relationship between the Métis nation of British Columbia and provincial officials. As a result of that, they're working on expanding the K-12 program and targeting a lot of the best practices to the K to 12 level, and I think that is a best practice.

Human Resources committee  I began by saying that our study indicated.... And we researched and did talk to people. We did primary and secondary research and interviews with policy players from Ontario west. What we found is that everyone agrees, particularly within the aboriginal communities and the Métis communities, to the extent that they are part of a program designed for aboriginals, that it's usually a pan-aboriginal program.

Human Resources committee  I do think that everyone should contribute, every sector of society. In terms of apprenticeship, aboriginal apprentices' representation is significantly more than the mainstream average, particularly for women. The only caveat I have is the assumption, or for anyone to assume, that aboriginals may only want to be involved in the trades when in fact they want to be involved in every aspect of the labour market.

Human Resources committee  Thank you. I wish to thank the committee for the opportunity to appear before you today. Renewing the labour market development agreements and the associated suite of programs is a key policy piece not only for the provinces but also for the aboriginal communities. I'm the associate director of research, policy, and strategic partnerships for the Rupertsland Centre.