Good morning, everyone.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee, for the invitation.

My name is Lorne Pelletier. I'm a senior economic adviser to President David Chartrand of the Manitoba Métis Federation. I join you from Winnipeg, the heart of our homeland.

I'm joined in the room by my colleague Marc LeClair, who is the chief executive officer of our affiliate, Métis N4 Construction.

As the committee knows, the Red River Métis are a recognized aboriginal group under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. Our people were and continue to be Canada's partner in Confederation.

Our people have always been known for our strong work ethic and entrepreneurship, going back to the days of our buffalo hunts. The Manitoba Métis Federation is the national government of our people, as outlined in our constitution, reflected in our democratic processes and acknowledged through the Manitoba Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Agreement signed with Canada in July 2021.

I'd like to begin my opening remarks by commending the Government of Canada for introducing the 5% indigenous procurement mandate in 2021. The policy reflects true and tangible indigenous reconciliation and has the potential to advance the economic participation of Red River Métis in meaningful ways.

While the policy is a good one, the committee is aware of the issues and barriers in its administration and delivery, as mentioned by others. Our Red River Métis businesses continue to face some of those barriers to participation in Canada's indigenous procurement. I would suggest to the committee that the Manitoba Métis Federation is prepared and ready to be part of the solution. The committee may not be aware, but the Manitoba Métis Federation has its own established Red River Métis business registry and an online Red River Métis business directory administered by our affiliate, the Louis Riel Capital Corporation.

Our Red River Métis business directory currently has 770 registered businesses in it. To register, businesses go through a verification of majority ownership process administered by our Louis Riel Capital Corporation, the Manitoba Métis Federation's indigenous financial institution. For the committee's awareness, the Louis Riel Capital Corporation just celebrated its 32nd anniversary of serving Red River Métis businesses. Through our process, a Red River Métis business owner or owners are equally validated for their citizenship with the Manitoba Métis Federation's citizenship registry, which is administered by our central registry office. All businesses on our Red River Métis business directory are verified for majority ownership and validated for citizenship with our government.

The issue is that our directory is not currently recognized as a valid source for confirming an indigenous business by the Government of Canada. As a result, any contracts established between Canada or one of its prime contractors looking to subcontract with a Red River Métis business do not count against the federal department's 5% requirement. The effect is that our Red River Métis businesses are disregarded and not given an opportunity or encouraged to register on the federal indigenous business directory.

As the committee is aware, the indigenous business directory registration process can be onerous. Moreover, these businesses are already registered on our government directory, so, in essence, it becomes a matter of principle pertaining to self-government, self-determination and ensuring that we're positioned to identify, recognize and promote Red River Métis businesses.

I would ask that the committee give strong consideration to recognizing our Red River Métis business directory as a legitimate source for indigenous procurement.

Thank you again for the invitation.

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