Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the committee for the invitation.

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

As the committee knows, the Red River Métis are a recognized aboriginal people 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 hard 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 the MMF constitution, which includes our definition for citizenship. It is reflected in our democratic processes, and it's acknowledged through the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty that we signed with Canada just 10 days ago.

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. 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.

In her appearance at committee yesterday, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, in response to a question, spoke to the engagement with various indigenous entities over the past year regarding the transformative indigenous procurement strategy and, based on her response to the committee, she will be providing a written list of those entities. You will find the Manitoba Métis Federation on that list. We have been a positive and constructive contributor to the discussion. In fact, when we have presented on our work at the co-development table, I humbly suggest to the committee that what the MMF is doing and what we've been sharing is seen in many respects as the leading practice in the country.

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 that is administered by our Louis Riel Capital Corporation, the Manitoba Métis Federation's indigenous financial institution.

Our Red River Métis business directory currently has 776 registered Red River Métis businesses. For perspective, that is the equivalent to over 25% of the federal indigenous business directory, yet less than 5% of our businesses are listed on the federal IBD.

To register on our directory, businesses have to go through a verification of a majority ownership process administered by the Louis Riel Capital Corporation. For for the committee's awareness, the Louis Riel Capital Corporation just celebrated its 32nd anniversary of serving Red River Métis businesses and entrepreneurs.

Through our process, the Red River Métis business owners are equally validated for their citizenship with the Manitoba Métis Federation's citizenship registry, which is administered by the MMF central registry office. In essence, each one of our businesses is verified for majority Red River Métis ownership, and the owner or owners are validated as Red River Métis.

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

The IBD registration, for your awareness, can be onerous, but more than that, our businesses are already registered with our own government business directory. It is a matter of principle and acts of self-determination and self-government that have driven our intensive work with our own business directory.

On behalf of President Chartrand and our government, I would ask that the committee give strong consideration to our Red River Métis business directory being recognized as a legitimate source for indigenous procurement.

Considering our Red River Métis business registry as a source for federal procurement would contribute to the efforts of federal departments in meeting their mandatory requirements and would, without question, be a tangible act of reconciliation, and it would absolutely result in increased Red River Métis participation in our economy.

Thank you again for the invitation.