Thank you, Joe.

The Canadian electricity industry supports increased funding for aboriginal education and hopes the first nation education act will help enable them to participate fully in Canada's workforce of the future. Canada's electricity industry has a strong commitment to aboriginal education at all levels, and recognizes that progress depends on strong collaborative relations with aboriginal communities and educators.

l'd like to conclude with a few words about the aboriginal skills, employment, and training strategy, ASETS, because I know you are seeking feedback on that specific program. We believe that a renewal of funding and focusing of ASETS on collaboration with key sectors such as ours would be a positive way forward.

While we are supportive of the program in principle, we have identified an area for improvement that could help address the current disconnect with our industry. The need for improvement is not solely a result of program design and administration. We as industry know that we, too, can do a better job of outreach and collaboration, specifically with aboriginal program partners who administer the program.

ASETS is more infrastructure project focused and less targeted at specific sectors. In light of the tremendous renewal and expansion of physical infrastructure taking place across the country, particularly in the energy sector, this is not a bad thing, and the electricity sector is one of those sectors, projected to undertake close to $350 billion in current Canadian dollars of investment by 2030. However, there is a distinct difference and advantage in the employment opportunities for aboriginal people in our sector when compared to other sectors.

Think of a new hydroelectric generating facility. The completion of construction is only the beginning. Once connected to the grid, the facility begins a long life of at least 100 years. In addition to the skilled workforce required to operate the generating facility, many more are needed to maintain and service the related infrastructure, everything from distribution substations, wires, poles, meters and all other aspects of the system, including the customer service and billing operations. These are deep and substantive long-term opportunities. Better connecting ASETS with our sector would benefit and open up more of these high-quality and long-term jobs to aboriginal people.

As with all aspects of engaging and partnering with aboriginal communities, we recognize that industry has a role. CEA is committed to continuing our work in identifying public policy options for attracting the aboriginal workforce to the electricity sector, and we look forward to working with the federal government to do so.

Thank you.

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