Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this was an issue that has come up for several years, the affirmative action policy in the government. There has been a concern in the middle management area. I know the department has done great in increasing the affirmative action statistics, especially when it comes to aboriginal people. Most of those positions are seasonal positions because of the forest fire management area and the wildlife officers.
I would like to ask the Minister if they have implemented any programs or courses to assist aboriginal people or women within your department to take extra training, so they are able to get the skills needed for middle or senior management, so they are able to move into the higher levels of the government? What have you done to improve that incentives like taking courses or looking at apprentice programs where you train people and work them into different jobs?