A new report says improving education, training and employment opportunities for indigenous people could boost Canada’s GDP by $27.7 billion annually. The National Aboriginal Economic Development Board says that without equal opportunities there can be no reconciliation with indigenous people.
The report notes that the current government of Canada has “been pursuing an ambitious reconciliation program for Indigenous Peoples, which includes $8.4 billion…to improve socio-economic conditions…”
It calls this an important first step but notes there is much more to be done.
Potential of boosting economy by 1.5 per cent
It says that if indigenous people had the same education and training as others productivity increases would mean an additional $8.5 billion in added revenue for them. Equal economic opportunities it estimates would add $6.9 billion in employment income and about 135,000 more indigenous people employed.
Reducing poverty rates would reduce the costs of supporting the poor and would save $8.4 billion annually. It concludes that if the gap in opportunities were closed there would be a boost of about 1.5 per cent to the Canadian economy.
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