The Committee for the Advancement of Native Employment

The purpose of the Committee for the Advancement of Native Employment (CANE) is to examine, explore and recommend ways to increase the number of Aboriginal persons employed within AANDC, seek ways to retain these employees and improve the quality of their employment. To this end, CANE works co-operatively with senior management and other levels of the Department to recommend and facilitate change to Aboriginal employment policies and programs within the Department, and to address concerns raised by Aboriginal employees.

CANE's Terms of Reference are as Follows:

• To develop and propose strategies whereby the employment of Aboriginal persons can be promoted and advanced and all impediments to advancement and retention be removed.
  
  
• To recommend actions to be taken within the Department to enhance the nature and quality of Aboriginal employment through recruitment programs, opportunities for training and advancement, career planning and cultural enrichment.
  
  
• To address all concerns raised by Aboriginal employees, as they have an impact on employment within the Department, e.g., succession planning and services to Aboriginal communities.
  
  
• To review existing departmental policies affecting employment of Aboriginal people.
  
  
• To assess the extent to which departmental policies are being implemented by reviewing statistics, e.g., numbers and percentages of Aboriginal people employed, and the levels of positions presently filled by Aboriginal people.
  
  
• To recommend actions to be taken by the federal government and by the Aboriginal community to improve and enhance Aboriginal employment within the federal government.

Membership is not formal. The committee provides a forum for all Aboriginal employees.

A CANE Executive Committee is responsible for following up on actions required to fulfil CANE's mandate. Members of the executive serve as spokespersons for the organization, and each maintains a working portfolio. They conduct regular meetings to communicate information to the membership, to receive information, and to listen to members' concerns which may require follow-up action.