Government Operations committee  My view is that staying at the policy of 33% aboriginal people working in the business is what it's all about. The shell companies have been a problem in the past. If there's a way of dissecting and getting those out of there to make a true aboriginal business, that's my view.

Government Operations committee  I understand what you're saying, but we do have to train and develop aboriginal people. By having them aboard or maybe filling the seat, at least they'll be training, in my view, to better themselves.

Government Operations committee  In my view, it's hard to tell where the dam is in the water. I just know it's not flowing. That question is a little difficult. I think if it's within Procurement Canada and it does come from the top down, then all purchasing departments do know that they have to use it. We aske

Government Operations committee  When you get that information, could we possibly have it too?

Government Operations committee  Just to leave it at the defence department, they do defence training, cold climates, and so forth, including snowmobile rental. I do have a standing offer with them. It's outside PSAB, and I have a 60:40 split. I have had small amounts being used. They know I'm an indigenous busi

Government Operations committee  Specifically to PSAB, INAC has told me that if it's going to an aboriginal community that's 80% populated or more, they first put it out as a set-aside. If no capacity exists, then they go to open bidding. I have one specific commodity that I had a small success with. Now that t

Government Operations committee  I've lobbied. I've talked to what I would assume was a manager in procurement policy. She basically came back to me and said that if we want it to change as it exists, aboriginal businesses have to band together and lobby for it. To me, it's totally wrong. It's pretty clear how

Government Operations committee  I mentioned in my notes about going to the government meetings. They have procurement meetings to tell aboriginal businesses it's there for them to use. They have a question period at the end, so I stand up and ask questions. I come to a specific set-aside example, and they all l

Government Operations committee  Yes.

Government Operations committee  Sure.

Government Operations committee  Mr. Chair and committee, thank you for the invitation to come and shed some light on our experience with the PSAB program. Today I am accompanied by Donelda DeLaRonde, the executive director of Red Sky Métis Independent Nation. I will be brief in order to save some time for que