The New Federal Framework For Aboriginal Economic Development: The Base Upon Which Future Canadian Government Policies and Programs Are Being Built

Abstract

According to a Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) report (1998), CAEDS started ... as a joint responsibility of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), Employment and Immigration (EI) and Industry Science and Technology (IST). (p. 43) These, and other, deficiencies were previously reflected in the findings of The 1993 Report of the Auditor General of Canada (chapter 11): 11.3 Visible leadership for implementing the Strategy as a whole needs to be better established. 11.4 The three departments responsible for implementing the CAED Strategy could not demonstrate that the variety of funding methods and amounts provided under the Strategy were appropriate in the circumstances. [...]despite some positive examples of aboriginal economic development, they could not demonstrate that, after spending at least $900 million from the beginning of its implementation in 1989 to early 1993, they were meeting the Strategy's objectives. 11.5 The lack of appropriate performance and evaluation information impedes the necessary accountability within the aboriginal communities and between the government and Parliament. According to the FFAED, Advantage Canada is "a strategic, long-term economic plan designed to improve Canada's economic prosperity today and in the future".